Police seize 22 cattle and truck worth Rs 16.40 lakh in Hinganghat; driver flees

Police in Hinganghat, Wardha district, have acted against illegal cattle smuggling and seized property worth Rs 16.40 lakh, including 22 cattle. The truck driver evaded the police and fled the spot. A case has been registered against him and a search is on.

According to police, a team from Hinganghat police station was on night patrol when an informer told them that cattle were being illegally transported in a red Eicher truck from Nagpur towards Hinganghat via Jam.

On receiving the information, the team set up a checkpoint in front of D-Mart. After some time, a red Eicher truck, registration number MH40-CT-7893, was seen approaching from the Nagpur side. Police signalled the driver to stop. The allegation is that the driver stopped the truck a short distance away and ran off on seeing the police.

The police then searched the truck in the presence of panch witnesses. They found 22 cattle packed tightly into the vehicle. According to police, all the animals were tied with ropes and were allegedly being transported cruelly. Police drew up a panchnama and took all the cattle into their custody.

Police said the 22 cattle are valued at about Rs 4.40 lakh and the Eicher truck at about Rs 12 lakh, bringing the total seizure to Rs 16.40 lakh.

A case has been registered against the absconding driver under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. Police are trying to identify and trace the accused.

The action was carried out under the guidance of Superintendent of Police Saurabh Kumar Agrawal, Additional Superintendent of Police Sadashiv Waghmare, Sub-Divisional Police Officer Sushil Kumar Nayak and Police Inspector Anil Raut.

Sub-Inspector Pravin Nagrale, head constables Pravin Bodhane and Kishor Gadewar, constables Swapnil Nikure and Rohit Sathe, and Sainik Suraj Chandankhede took part in the operation. Hinganghat police are conducting further investigation.