A dispute over the ownership of a buffalo bull has sparked tensions between residents of Bommanahal village in Karnataka’s Ballari district and Metahal village in neighboring Andhra Pradesh. The issue has now reached Moka police station in Ballari.
Both villages have called for a DNA test to determine the bull’s parentage after disagreements escalated, according to a report by The New Indian Express.
The five-year-old bull, originally from Bommanahal, was set loose for a village ritual in January. However, it went missing and was later found in Metahal, approximately 20 kilometers away. When villagers from Bommanahal tried to retrieve the bull, a clash erupted, leaving several injured. The bull is now tied up in Metahal, with villagers there refusing to concede Bommanahal’s claim despite their argument that the bull’s mother is still in their village.
Hanumantha R. from Bommanahal explained that their village sacrifices a buffalo bull every five years during the Goddess Sakammadevi fair. The bull chosen for the ritual is now in Metahal, which holds a similar festival every three years. He expressed optimism that the matter would be resolved peacefully.