Police have detained a Civil Volunteer Corps (Rela) member believed to have shot dead a suspected cattle thief at an oil palm farm in Gua Musang on Wednesday.

   

Kelantan police chief Mazlan Lazim said in Kota Baru yesterday that the man aged 48, had been remanded for four days to facilitate investigations.

   

"I want to remind firearm owners about handling the weapons properly as it involves lives, even though we do have the right to defend ourselves," he told reporters after visiting the flood relief centre at Sekolah Kebangsaan Tiong.

   

Mazlan said in the 6.05am incident at the farm at Sungai Terah, Gua Musang, the Rela member and also a cattle owner was pursuing two men in a four-wheel-drive vehicle, who he suspected were attempting to steal some of his animals.

   

The suspects' vehicle skidded, and one of them allegedly came out and charged at the cattle owner with a machete, causing him to retaliate with a gunshot.

   

Mazlan said the suspect died at the scene, while police are tracking down his accomplice.

   

He also said that the dead suspect had a record of three narcotics cases.

- Bernama