The Town police have arrested a man for attacking an official who tried to save cattle from illegal slaughter at Channarayapatna on Sunday.

A 15-member gang allegedly attacked Thimmaraju, an official with the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) under the Environment Ministry, while he tried to save the cattle that were being illegally transported for slaughter on Saturday night. The prime suspect Abdul Haq has been arrested and remanded in judicial custody. Cases have been registered against 14 others.

The police said based on a complaint by Thimmaraju, they conducted a raid on a slaughter house on Baguru Road on Saturday night and rescued 16 heads of cattle that were being illegally transported. On a suspicion that there may be more cattle at the slaughter house, Thimmaraju went inside to find three animals and tried to rescue them. At this juncture, a 15-member gang attacked him. However, the police rushed to the spot and rescued him. He was admitted to the government hospital. The cattle were shifted to Pinjrapole Society in Mysuru.

Two cases have been filed against Haq for illegal transportation of cattle and attacking Thimmaraju, police said.