Udupi Police Invoke Strict ‘KOCA’ Act on Cattle Theft Gang; Three Accused Rearrest

Udupi: In a major crackdown on organized crime in coastal Karnataka, the Udupi district police have invoked the stringent Karnataka Organised Crime Control Act (KOCA) against three individuals involved in a violent cattle theft case. The accused, who were previously out on bail, have been rearrested and sent back to judicial custody.

The Midnight Heist at Shirlalu:

The case dates back to the night of September 29, 2025. Around 2:15 AM, the accused trespassed into the cattle shed of Jayashree Poojari in Hadiyangadi, Shirlalu village. When the family woke up and tried to intervene, the gang allegedly brandished a talwar (machete) and threatened to kill them.

The thieves then cut the ropes of three cattle, valued at approximately ₹35,000, and bundled them into a waiting vehicle before speeding away. A case was subsequently registered at the Ajekaru Police Station under various sections of the BNS (Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita).

Who are the Accused?

Following an intense investigation by the Karkala Circle Inspector, the following three individuals were identified and arrested:

Mohammad Yunis (31)

Mohammad Iqbal alias Ikku (29)

Nasir alias Mohammad Nasir (28)

Why was the KOCA Act Invoked?

While the trio had managed to secure bail recently, further investigation revealed that they were not just petty thieves but part of a well-organized criminal syndicate involved in multiple illegal activities across the region.

To break the backbone of such organized gangs, the police department decided to apply the KOCA Act. This law is significantly more stringent, making it difficult for the accused to obtain bail and ensuring a faster trial for organized crimes. Following the invocation of this act, the police rearrested the trio and produced them before the court, which remanded them to judicial custody.