Thimphu police detained two men for allegedly stealing cattle and slaughtering them. One of the accomplices is still at large. All suspects are from Samtse. The joint patrol team of police and villagers of Maedwang Gewog caught them yesterday at around 3 AM from Shongchi-Phakha near the education city project area in Thimphu.
Remains of three cattle were scattered all over the place. The police also seized a bolero pickup truckload of meat and arrested the driver on the spot.
The BAFRA disposed of the meat which is usually sold in Thimphu.
Police in Khasadrapchu and farmers started patrolling the area about a month ago after farmers started losing their cattle frequently. People from Maedwang Gewog in Thimphu and Dokar Gewog in Paro keep their animals in the area during summer.
Ugyen Tshering, a farmer from Paro said, “My two cattle have been killed. We look after our herd every day, but even then things like this happen. It is risky.”
“When we intercepted the pickup truck, the meat was still hot and fresh. The driver said they slaughtered three cattle. We lost seven cattle from the chiwog this year,” said Phurba, the Tshogpa of Sisinang chiwog in Thimphu.
The Goensakha Tshogpa from Paro, Ugyen said, “About eight cattle were killed from my chiwog and many are still missing. We don’t have any clue.”
Another Paro resident, Chencho said “I lost 14 cattle since 2019. The culprits take advantage since I mostly stay alone with the cattle. We informed the concerned authorities in 2019 but nothing was done. So, this is one reason the crime is becoming rampant.”
The farmers said they lost about 40 cattle since 2019. They said they started losing more cattle after the borders were closed amid the pandemic.
Namgay Wangchuk, Paro
Edited by Tandin Phuntsho
