Villager booked after 15 buffaloes head to expressway to graze

PUNE: A cattle owner was booked on Wednesday for letting buffaloes loose on Pune-Mumbai expressway near Urse toll post to graze on the greens along the road and on the median.
As many as 15 buffaloes strayed on the fast lanes of the expressway around 8.30am on Wednesday, prompting the officers of the highway safety patrol (HSP) to file a case against the owner, Ranjit Kaluram Verma from Urse, for posing a threat to motorists.
Upon investigation, the officers got to know that Verma, who hails from Madhya Pradesh, regularly brings his cattle to the expressway for grazing.
Superintendent of police, HSP Pune, Amol Tambe said his team spotted the buffaloes while inspecting the expressway. "We were brainstorming about the traffic jams and accidents on the expressway when the animals suddenly appeared in front of our vehicle from nowhere," Tambe said.
After inspection, we found that the fence and safety wall along the expressway have been broken at many places to allow people and in this case, animals, an easy access to the fast lane.
"Consequently, a survey will be carried out to identify the broken walls and fences," he added.
These punctures, HSP officers suspect, may have been created to even allow two-wheeler riders to enter the expressway.
"Two-wheelers, bullock carts and three-wheelers are not allowed on the expressway," they said.
Meanwhile, expressing serious concerns over the cattle straying the expressway, Tambe said that these animals could cause several fatal accidents.
"Investigations have revealed that Verma owns six buffaloes. On Wednesday, he brought buffaloes of other owners as well to graze along the expressway," he added.
Verma has been booked under the sections 283 (Danger or obstruction in public way or line of navigation) and 289 (Negligent conduct with respect to animal) of Indian Penal Code (IPC). The case has been lodged with the Talegaon Dabhade police.