Mangaluru: The hunger strike by Rajaram Bhat, caretaker of Amrutadhara Goshala, and others demanding the arrest of the persons involved in the theft of a cow from the goshala at Kairangala, on the outskirts of the city, entered its sixth day on Friday.

The seer of Ramachandrapura Mutt, Raghaveshwara Bharati, who runs the goshala, visited Mr. Bhat and others on Friday and extended his support to the strike.

Mr. Bhat started the hunger strike on April 1 following the alleged inaction of the police in catching those who had stolen a cow from the goshala on March 29.

A gang reportedly entered the goshala with a vehicle on March 29 morning and escaped with a cow.

Vishwanath of the goshala reportedly pounced on a person and managed to rescue another cow from being taken away.

The gang also threatened Vishwanath of stealing more cows from the goshala before leaving the place.

Mr. Bhat said he had to start an indefinite hunger strike to prevail upon police to arrest the persons behind the theft of cows.

“We are fighting against this mentality of stealing cows, which are source of livelihood of many households.”

Cows were stolen from the goshala in 2008 and in 2014, he said. By arresting the right persons, police can bring an end to this cattle theft.

Mr. Bhat said the two arrested relating to the theft are not the ones who had stolen the cows.

Supporting Mr. Bhat’s hunger strike, the seer asked people to join the non-violent form of protest against cattle theft .

“If Mr. Bhat loses strength, I too will join. We need to take the issue to its logical end,” he said addressing the protesters on the occasion.

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh leader Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat accused the government of failing to protect cows from theft.

As many as 44 persons took part in the hunger strike on Friday that included Balepuni-Kairangala Gram Panchayat members Haneef and K.H. Siddiq.