Cattle transporter killing: Puneeth Kerahalli arrested but police action raises suspicion

Bengaluru: Puneeth Kerahalli, the main accused in the Idrees Pasha murder case, has been arrested in Rajasthan, according to Ramanagara Superintendent of Police Karthik Reddy. Puneeth had been on the run for four days.

He is accused of killing Pasha and assaulting his associates, Syed Zaheer and Irfan, for transporting cattle. Puneeth, a Hindutva extremist, is known for using a stun gun to inflict pain during his 'cow vigilante' activities, and Pasha's body had burn marks on it. His actions were recorded and shared on social media.

Questions have been raised about whether the police deliberately ignored a recent attack by Hindutva vigilantes on three cattle transporters in Ramanagara, which resulted in one death. The attack took place near a police station, less than 300 meters away, and the body of one of the victims was found only 500 meters from the same station. The incident occurred at night when there were few people around, making it difficult to understand how the police missed such a significant attack.

Idrees Pasha, a cattle transporter, was found dead just 500 meters from the Sathanur police station in Ramanagara on April 1. Witnesses and CCTV footage suggest that he may have been trying to escape from cow vigilantes before being attacked. His body was found in a prostrating position, indicating that he may have been praying for protection. Bruises and burn marks were visible on his body, raising questions about police complicity in the incident.

On March 31, Idrees, along with two colleagues, were transporting 16 cows in their van from Mandya to Tamil Nadu via Ramanagara district. They were stopped near Sathanur Circle by self-proclaimed cow vigilantes led by a Hindutva leader, Puneeth Kerehalli, who accused them of illegally transporting cattle. Three other vigilantes checked the container and found cattle inside. The incident was live-streamed on Puneeth's Facebook account. Idrees and Irfan fled in different directions when they saw Puneeth and others restraining Syed Zaheer, the driver of the van.

Despite Syed Zaheer, the driver of the van producing a permit for cattle transportation, Puneeth Kerehalli, the Hindutva leader, took him to the police station and filed a complaint against him and the two others for alleged illegal transportation of cattle.

The police registered a second FIR based on Zaheer's statement, booking four individuals including Puneeth, under various sections of the Indian Penal Code. The next morning, a body was found nearby, which was later identified as Idrees Pasha, one of the individuals who had fled the scene.

Puneeth Kerehalli, the leader of a far-right Hindutva group, and his associates have been booked for murder and wrongful restraint in connection with the death of a man named Idrees. Puneeth is known to intercept cattle transportation and has uploaded videos claiming to "rescue" cattle.

He live-streamed the incident on Facebook, during which he expressed gratitude towards his associates. Four days after the incident, Puneeth posted a video denying any involvement in the crime and claimed that he was being framed by political opponents.

He is the leader of Raastra Rakshana Pade and has close ties with the Bharatiya Janata Party. His group campaigns for various causes, including boycotting Muslim vendors near Hindu temples and opposing the consumption of halal food in Karnataka. The transportation of cattle, even for legitimate purposes, is risky due to self-proclaimed 'cow protectors.'