Hyderabad: Task force detectives busted a gang of cattle thieves at Madhapur and arrested five persons. Acting on a tip off, south zone task force detectives with the help of Madhapur police arrested Mohammed Ayyub, 54, an auto driver; his associates, Mohammed Baba, 34, a car driver; Mohammed Ayyub Quraishi, 28, a butcher; Mohammed Haji, 30, an auto driver residents of Pahadi Shareef; and Mohammed Ishaq, 47, an auto driver resident of Tolichowki. According to police one member of the gang is absconding. Ayyub is said to be the kingpin. He is involved in 200 cases.
The gang members used to target cattle sheds in isolated areas and steal livestock.
Police seized an Omni van (specially prepared to transport the stolen livestock by removing the passenger seats), a stolen cow and a calf from their possession.
The gang was active in Hyderabad, Ranga Reddy, Mahboobnagar, Medak and Warangal districts since 2001. According to DCP “After stealing the cattle during the night, the gang used to sell them to butchers for throwaway prices before the break of dawn. The butchers would slaughter cattle immediately leaving no evidence.”