Mangaluru: The cattle theft and illegal transport detection squad that was constituted by the Mangaluru City Police on October 5 made its first bust during the weekend when it thwarted an attempted illegal transport of cattle.

The bust was carried out by the squad, along with the personnel from the Kankanady Town Police Station, based on a tip-off that cattle was being illegally transported in a pick-up vehicle from Bantwal to the Mangaluru. The vehicle was intercepted Ujjodi near the Pumpwell circle.

In a statement, Mangaluru Police Commissioner Vikash Kumar Vikash stated that the cattle traffickers fled from the scene and abandoned the vehicle when they saw the police. Six cows, a bull and five calves were rescued by the team.

The rescued animals were handed over to the gaushala at Pajeer on the direction of the jurisdictional court.

A case has been registered in this regard and the police are on the lookout for the culprits.

Meanwhile, the city police have set up 32 checkpoints at various points in order to check for illegal cattle trafficking. Tabs are also being kept on known cattle traffickers.

Vikash Kumar also informed that said special rounds have been initiated in the night time when illegal traffickers prefer to transport cattle.