‘Police Filed Non Bailable Case On Me even after producing all the legal Documents & Let My Attackers On Bail, which is Unfair’- Victim Mohammed Haneef Guddemane of Cattle Vigilantes
Mangaluru : Recalling the incident which took place on Sunday, 14 June, where over a dozen of Bajrang Dal activists stopped a tempo that was transporting buffaloes near Urwa Police station. As many as four buffaloes were being transported in the tempo from Jokatte to Kudroli slaughter house in Mangaluru, by Mohammed Haneef Guddemane, who was driving the tempo on that early Sunday morning. The Bajrang Dal rescued all the four buffaloes and handed over the driver of the tempo to the police, prior to which they thrashed Haneef and had tied him to the tempo-they even damaged hsi tempo and stole his money. But during police investigation it was learnt, Haneef had recently bought ten cattle including the buffaloes from the agricultural market at Ranebennur in Haveri district. He had sold six among them and the remaining were with him, and was taking them to Kudroli slaughter house- he had produced all the documents pertaining to it.
In response to that incident, Mohammed Haneef Guddemane hailing from Thokur Jokatte, in the outskirts of Mangaluru, held a press meet today, 19 June at Mangaluru Press Club, and addressing the media persons said, “I was not transporting the cattle illegally, since I manage a animal husbandry, and have been in this business for many years. Just because you are transporting cattle, it doesn’t mean it is done illegally, without knowing the facts, and that’s what happened to me where Bajrang Dal activists intercepted my tempo, pulled me down from the driver’s seat, and assaulted me badly, and even they tied me up to the tempo. I go out of town and buy cattle as part of my business”.
“On 13 June I had been to Ranebannur in Haveri District, where I had bought ten buffaloes, and after obtaining certificate from the local government veterinary doctor, I brought them to my village in Jokkate, in the outskirts of Mangaluru. Out of the ten buffaloes I had already sold six of them, and the remaining four I was transporting from my house in Jokkate to the slaughter house in Kudroli, Mangaluru, and that was on Sunday, 14 June. While I was nearing to Urwa Police Station area, I was intercepted by a gang of nearly 15 members of a Saffron group, and they pulled me out of the vehicle, thrashed me, also damaged my vehicle, stole Rs 7800 cash that I had with me. They even used foul language against my Muslim religion. They attacked me more after tying me to the tempo, and all this was recorded and posted on social media by these attackers, and such thing gone viral has caused me mental agony. When the attackers saw the police coming to the spot within few minutes, they fled from the spot. I was taken to Highland Hospital in Mangaluru for treatment” added Mohammed Haneef.
Haneef further said, “I had requested the Urwa Police to register case against everyone who had attacked me, and provide justice to me, but I came to know that out of nearly 15 culprits who assaulted me, the police have charged only six of them under the suitable law which is simple and not strong enough to punish the culprits. The police have even let them on bail, but have filed non bailable case on me, even after I produced all the legal documents. Therefore, on 17 June I visited the Urwa Police station and recorded a statement. I want the police to further investigate into this incident, and charge everyone who mercilessly attacked me, so that justice is done to me”.
Also present on the dais during the press meet were Hyder Jamayat-the brother of Mohammed Haneef, Former MCC mayor K Ashraf, Vice president of Jokatte Gram Panchayat- Samshuddin, and A K Ashraf Jokatte .