Bengaluru, 23 May

Two individuals were reportedly assaulted by an unidentified group during an investigation into alleged illegal cattle and camel transport on the outskirts of the City, police said on Saturday. The incident took place late Friday night at Medimallasandra village under Anugondanahalli Police Station limits. A case has been filed based on a complaint by Sanjay Kulkarni, an honorary Animal Welfare Officer with the Animal Welfare Board of India.

According to the FIR, Kulkarni received intelligence that over 20 camels and several cows were kept at Medimallasandra for slaughter during Bakrid. Acting on this, Kulkarni, accompanied by volunteer Manjunatha and four police officers, visited the location around 2.15am. When they arrived, the animals had allegedly been moved. The team then proceeded to another site near a plywood factory, where they reportedly found 10 cows being kept illegally.

At this location, a large group of unidentified individuals assaulted Kulkarni and the volunteer with fists, stones, and sharp weapons, causing injuries to their necks, faces, and heads. The police later shifted the injured for treatment.

Kulkarni called the incident "shocking" and demanded strict action.