6 held in connection with severed cow head incident, communal discord angle ruled out

Udupi: The Udupi District Police arrested six persons in connection with the dumping of the head and skin of a cow on the roadside at the Kunjal Junction in the Brahmavar taluk.

The arrested are Rama (49), Prasad (21), Keshav Naik (50), Sandesh (35) and Rajesh (28), all residents of Kunjal, and Naveen (35), from Matapadi, Handadi village in the Brahmavar taluk. One more is still at large, Udupi SP Hariram Shankar told mediapersons.

The arrested persons include masons and a driver, and reportedly have no prior criminal background.

A special investigation team, comprising the DySP, two additional SPs, a circle inspector, and four PSIs, was formed to investigate the case. The police were successful in tracing the six accused based on a CCTV footage and by analysing the movement of vehicles.

As per the preliminary investigation, Rama had taken a cow from Keshava, who was unable to rear it. The cow was transported in a car owned by Sandesh to a location where Rama, Prasad and Naveen allegedly slaughtered it. The meat was taken to Rajesh’s house. Part of the carcass fell on the road when the remains were being transported on a two-wheeler for disposal.

The preliminary investigation revealed that the incident was not an act intended to incite communal discord. The cow was slaughtered for personal consumption.
The police have confiscated the vehicles used in the crime and produced the accused before the court for further legal proceedings.

The SP warned the public against spreading misinformation. “Several baseless and communal speculations are circulating on social media. I urge the public to refrain from such posts. We are dealing with a sensitive case, and irresponsible comments can trigger unnecessary hatred. Strict action will be taken against those who incite communal disharmony,” he said. 

The department is committed to maintaining communal harmony in the region. The case is being probed from all angles including the possibility of meat being sold, he added. 

After spotting the head and skin of the cow, the Brahmavar Police had registered a case under Sections 4, 5 and 12 of the Karnataka Prevention of Cow Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Act, and Section 303 (1) of the BNS.