Public thwart cattle theft, one from Haryana nabbed

Following a series of incidents in which cattle have mysteriously vanished in Poonamallee and Tiruverkadu areas, people increased their vigil for the miscreants. In the wee hours of Monday, a few noticed a group of men forcefully loading a cow into a van at Varadharajapuram. 

When they tried to intercept, the gang tried to escape. However, residents chased them and surrounded them a kilometre away. While six men fled the spot, they managed to secure one and handed him over to the Poonamallee police.

After investigation, the police identified him as Thariq (30) from Haryana. The stolen cow and the van used for it were seized. The gang would pick a cow from one locality and sell it in another, said the police. The Poonamallee police have registered a case and have launched a hunt for other thieves. Residents said that more than 100 cattle have been stolen in the locality in the last few months.