Dreaded cattle thief in police net

From a Correspondent

JORHAT, March 28: A dreaded cattle thief and mastermind of many cattle thefts, who had of late become a headache for the Jorhat Police, identified as Rekib Ali (40) of Hatibaruah Ali under Lahdoigarh Police outpost, was successfully bbed by police of Cinmora Outpost from the Hulalbari area in Meleng Tea Estate under Teok Police station after a long chase in the wee hours of Saturday in Jorhat. Police also recovered a Tata DI vehicle (AS-03 F 1083).

Talking to The Sentinel, Officer in Charge Mayurjit Gogoi said, “We had been following the trail of Rekib Ali and his gang for quite some time following increase in the number of cases of cattle theft from the Cinmora and Mariani area. Acting on a tip-off we laid a trap near the Cinmora Tea Factory and at around 3 am we saw the vehicle coming and directed it to stop but the vehicle speed off. It was driven by Rekib Ali. While four others maged to escape under the cover of darkness we maged to apprehend the main kingpin besides recovering the Tata DI that belongs to Arup Jyoti Bora of Dhekiakhuwa and four cattle, including a pair of oxen, belonging to. Bharat Borpatro Gohain of Pukhuria under Mariani. The pair of oxen has a market value of not less than Rs 30,000. Our investigation is on to trace the other four. Rekib Ali has so far taken the mes of two others, mely Bulukon and Kerepai of Kakojan, and another driver of the vehicle Irdrish Ali. They used to sell the stolen cattle in the Kalipani weekly market under Teok.”

Meanwhile, the Bhogdoi police on Saturday also detained seven trucks carrying cattle to Badulipar of Dergaon and Lanka of gaon purchased by two cattle traders identified as Ataur Rahman and Hipzur Rahman from the Kalipani weekly market. Police sources informed that the trucks traders did not possess any livestock carrying certificate except for a receipt issued by the Kalipani Bazaar committee which can be purchased by every trader by paying Rs 200. However, police investigation is on to ascertain whether the Kalipani cattle market has any connection with cattle thief Rekib Ali and also find out if any stolen cattle was among the ones purchased by Ataur and Hipzur Rahman.