In a pre-dawn operation on Friday, the crime branch and Cantonment police raided an illegal cattle slaughter unit operating from a godown behind the Kasambari Dargah garbage depot, seizing 21 cows and bulls along with approximately 510kg of suspected beef.
The raid, conducted around 4am, was triggered after a sub-inspector received a tip-off about illicit cattle slaughter at the location. On noticing the police, five individuals present at the scene fled under the cover of darkness. One accused, Manoj Bhalerao, was apprehended on-site, according to Crime Branch Inspector Gajanan Kalyankar.
During interrogation, Bhalerao allegedly revealed the identities of the absconding suspects, prompting police teams to be deployed to trace and arrest them.
A detailed search of the premises uncovered the animals kept in cramped and reportedly inhumane conditions, along with the meat, believed to be from slaughtered cattle. The total estimated value of the seizure is Rs 14.12 lakh, including cattle worth Rs 10.5 lakh, meat worth Rs 1.02 lakh, a loading rickshaw valued at Rs 1 lakh, and three motorcycles worth Rs 1.6 lakh.
Investigators stated that Bhalerao claimed the owner of the godown had allegedly arranged the cattle for slaughter, highlighting the organized nature of the illegal operation. The police continue their search for the remaining suspects as part of the ongoing investigation.