A number of residents of Balaji Nagar in Royapettah reported that their pet cats had gone missing around Pongal. Recently, rumors emerged that in several roadside food establishments in areas including Sengundram and Pallavaram, cat meat was being added to mutton biryani. Taking these incidents into consideration, the police formed a special team and probed the issue, leading to the rescue of 12 cats trapped by narikuravas to be used to make biryani. The police rescued the cats which were held captive in gunny bags by narikuravas in Thirumullaivoyal. The cats have been taken away for rehabilitation.