Kulgam: In a brazen act of livestock theft, unknown thieves stole 136 sheep from a shepherd’s enclosure in the Zirh Chak Yurkhoshpora area of South Kashmir’s Kulgam district during the dead of night, sending shockwaves through the local pastoral community.
The stolen flock belonged to Saddam Gujjar, a shepherd from Churt village, who was tending to the animals when the incident occurred under the cover of darkness. Locals said the theft was carried out swiftly and quietly, with the culprits managing to flee with the herd without raising alarm.
Following the incident, three of the stolen sheep were later recovered from Sangran, Nawa, and Bonigam areas—believed to have escaped during transit.
The stolen livestock included animals owned by several other residents of Churt village, namely Shiraz Ahmad Bhat, Waheed Ahmad Bhat, Mohammad Yousuf Bhat, Rafiq Ahmad Shah, Hamidullah Teli, Hamidullah Bhat, Rasikh Ahmad Lone, Riyaz Ahmad Bhat, among others.
Police have initiated an investigation and efforts are underway to trace and apprehend the culprits. – (KNT)
