ADILABAD: Nirmal police have arrested nine members of an interstate gang slaughtering cattle in the district and smuggling the meat to Ajmer in Rajasthan.
According to Nirmal SP Dr G Janaki Sharmila, the group allegedly procured cattle from farmers along the Nirmal–Nanded border, sedated them with anaesthetic injections before slaughtering them and transporting the beef for sale in Maharashtra.
The gang was led by Syed Sohail from Nanded, Maharashtra, who is said to have recruited about 40 people.
Police said the accused operated from a large garage in Nanded where they modified vehicles, including Innovas and Boleros, to facilitate the cattle smuggling racket. Khalid from Bhainsa allegedly supplied the drugs used to sedate the animals.
CCTV footage from Mudhole recently captured an attempted theft of cattle, leading to the arrest of one suspect.
During interrogation, he spilled the beans on the entire racket, the SP stated.
Under ASP Bhainsa Avinash Kumar, police tracked the gang to Ajmer, arresting seven members with assistance from Rajasthan Police. Sheikh Umar from Bhainsa and Khalid were later detained locally. Two suspects, Raju from Nanded and Tayyab from Bhainsa, remain at large. Seized items include a Mahindra XUV500 (MH26AK0005), a Dzire car (MH12KM9337), eight mobile phones, and Rs 39,280 in cash.
SP Sharmila warned that illegal cattle trafficking was a criminal offence and said further arrests were expected as the investigation continues.
The arrested accused were identified as: Syed Sohail (40), Sheikh Zameer (27), Sheikh Murtuza (36), Mohammad Naseer (35), Syed Akram (24), Syed Shoaib (33), Syed Faizan (23), Sheikh Umer, and Khalid (both from Bhainsa).