Surat: In a 2014 case involving an attack on Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) employees who were capturing stray cattle in Vesu, a local court has convicted a cattle owner and sentenced him to three years in prison.

According to case details, Mahendrasinh Manasingh Atodariya, who worked in the health department’s market section at SMC, was part of a team tasked with capturing two stray buffaloes roaming freely on Udhna-Magdalla road. While the municipal team was loading the buffaloes onto a trailer, Bharat Ramjibhai Rabari, the owner of the animals and a resident of Jayjalaram Nagar, Vesu, arrived at the scene.

Bharat allegedly harassed the municipal staff and created a ruckus, demanding the release of the buffaloes. Before the staff could react, he removed both buffaloes from the trailer. When Mahendrasinh tried to stop him, Bharat assaulted him with a wooden stick.

Following the incident, Mahendrasinh filed a complaint at the Umra police station. The case went to court, where government lawyer Vishal Phaldu presented arguments seeking the maximum punishment. After hearing both sides, the court found Bharat Rabari guilty of assault and sentenced him to three years in prison along with a fine of Rs 10,000. DeshGujarat