The recent death of Kabir (22), transporting cattle from Sringeri to the city, has heightened traders’ fears and they complain of harassment by groups of activists and the police.
Badruddin, who claims to have been in the cattle transport business for 15 years, has quit the business given the risks. “My grandfather was a cattle trader, and so was my father. It is only in the past two years that the harassment has become too much,” he says, citing the assault on cattle transporters in Kudupu on October 9, 2013.
Numerous traders in Kulai and Jokatte — for whom cattle transportation or trading is a traditional occupation — say they have reduced the trips to ferry cattle. The fatal shooting of Kabir could also possibly be a sequel to protests and allegations of cattle thefts in the district in June.
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With cattle traders wary, the supply chain for nearly 28 beef shops in Mangalore has been affected, says Ali Hasan, president, Beef Traders’ Association Mangalore. “Cattle transporters have stopped supplies after the incident… We hardly have stock to meet the demand,” he says.