KEMAMAN: Six contract workers, tasked to monitor and capture trespassing animals along the East Coast Expressway 2 (LPT2), were beaten up by villagers who mistook them for cow thieves last night.
In the 11pm incident, villagers of Kampung Chabang, Kertih, who were suspicious of the men's presence near the highway interchange, had ganged up and "detained" the six men after they found a cow inside a van parked nearby.
Some of the angry villagers, it was learnt, had beaten up the men before handing them over to the police. Photographs of their "detention" were spread via Facebook early today.
District police chief Superintendent Mohd Said Ibrahim confirmed the men were working for the highway operator to monitor and capture any animals found wandering into the LPT2 at night and ensure safety of highway users.
"The misunderstanding happened when the villagers found a cow inside the contractor's van and immediately assumed they were thieves.
"The villagers said due to rising cases of missing livestock in the village, they immediately assumed the men to be responsible for it."
Mohd Said reminded the public not to take the law into their own hands and should leave it to the police to deal with such matter.
He said those involved could face charges under Section 323, 324, 325 and 326 of the Penal Code for causing hurt.