Karnataka cattle trader’s murder: 5 vigilantes held, autopsy points to cardiac arrest

While Zaheer, the driver of the truck carrying 16 cattle, was taken to Sathanur police station by the accused for registration of a case under the Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Bill, 2020, which gives special immunity to persons acting in the interest of cow protection, the two others in the truck were reported to have escaped. Pasha was found dead around 8 am near the site where the truck was stopped.

Three FIRs were registered by Sathnur police, including one for Pasha’s murder, a second for the attack by the vigilantes on the truck, and a third in connection with the cow protection law filed by the Kerehalli. After Pasha’s body was discovered, Kerehalli had gone missing.

On Wednesday, police announced that the five accused had been arrested after a hot pursuit across several states.

“In regards… the death of Idrees Pasha, the accused Puneeth Kerahalli and four others have been arrested by our team at Banswara, Rajasthan,” the Ramanagara SP Karhik Reddy said. “They were on the run since the incident. They travelled via Belagavi to Maharashtra to Gujarat to Rajasthan,” the Inspector General of Police for the Central Range, B R Ravikanthe Gowda, said.

While on the run, Kerehallui uploaded a Facebook video claiming no role in Pasha’s death and alleging a conspiracy against him for being a cow vigilante.

Meanwhile, police sources said medical experts were still investigating what caused the cardiac arrest death in the absence of any major external injuries.

Forensic experts said the role of stun guns or tasers, allegedly used by the accused vigilantes to immobilise their targets, would have to be ascertained through further forensic studies.

“The post-mortem report has been kept pending and they have said it will be given once an FSL report is obtained. After the murder case was registered, a panel of doctors was created and a post-mortem was conducted. After the (full) post-mortem report is available, the cause of death will be known,” the Ramanagara SP said.

According to the murder FIR, the vigilantes attempted to extort Rs 2 lakh from the victims, and assaulted them when they refused.

The victim’s brother, Yunus Pasha, told The Indian Express that he saw burn marks on his chest after the body was recovered. “I suspect he was assaulted and given electric shocks,” he alleged.

Police have also indicated that a stun gun may have been used. “We are awaiting a final medical opinion after all tests are done to arrive at a conclusion,” a police official said.

In videos, Kerehalli is purportedly seen carrying a baseball bat and a stun gun while intercepting vehicles carrying cattle.