Ambernath: The Ambernath Police arrested a man for allegedly stealing a cow on Thursday night, while two of his accomplices managed to escape, officials said.

The incident occurred in Javsai village, Ambernath, when the cow’s owner was searching for his missing animal around the village. He later found the cow in an unconscious state. Suspecting foul play, he alerted other villagers, and together, they managed to catch one of the suspects, while the other two fled. The captured man was subsequently handed over to the police.

The arrested accused has been identified as Aman Rafique Sheikh (39), a resident of Bazarpeth in Kalyan.

According to the police, the complainant, identified as Wakchaure, stated that his cow had been grazing around the village when he saw three men feeding it. The police suspect that they were administering a sedative-laced substance in the food, which rendered the cow unconscious. Wakchaure immediately alerted the villagers, who helped apprehend one of the suspects while the other two managed to escape.

Senior Police Inspector Balaji Pandhare from Ambernath Police Station said, “The accused, Aman Sheikh, has been arrested, and a manhunt is underway to track down the two absconding suspects. We have registered an FIR under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. Preliminary investigations suggest that the suspects intended to steal the cow and sell it in the market. The arrested accused has been remanded in police custody for further investigation.”