Mirzapur, 16 June

(HS): In a major crackdown on cow smuggling on Tuesday morning, cops from Vindhyachal

police station in Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh, shot a notorious cow smuggler in an

encounter and arrested three other accused. Police recovered five cattle, a

pickup truck, and illegal pistols and cartridges from their possession.

Under the direction of the Additional Superintendent

of Police (City) and the City Circle Officer, the Vindhyachal police received

information from an informant that cattle were being smuggled in a pickup

truck. Acting on the information, the police team began pursuing the suspicious

vehicle from the Gaipura area. Seeing the police pursuit, the occupants fled

towards Lalganj. Near Dadar Hill, a joint team of Vindhyachal, Gaipura, and

Ashtabhuja police stations surrounded the vehicle and attempted to stop it.

The

accused opened fire on the police team to avoid arrest. In retaliation, one

smuggler was shot in the leg while two of his accomplices were apprehended. The injured accused has been identified as Rohit

Yadav, son of Rajendra Yadav, resident of Balouni Khurd, Chandauli police

station. He was shot in the right leg. The other arrested accused include Ashok

Yadav, son of Ramashra Yadav, resident of Dohil, Chandauli police station, and

Rajiv Tiwari, son of Asaram Tiwari, resident of Naugaon Devipur, Vindhyachal

police station. Police recovered a .315-bore country-made pistol, one live

cartridge, one spent cartridge, the pickup vehicle used in the smuggling, and

five cattle being transported for slaughter from the accused. During

interrogation, the accused revealed that they smuggled the cattle and sold them

in Bihar.

Vindhyachal Police

Station in-charge Inspector Ajit Kumar Singh stated that the cow smugglers were

surrounded based on information from an informant. Upon seeing the police team,

the accused attempted to flee and opened fire. One smuggler was injured in the

retaliatory fire in self-defense, while two of his accomplices were arrested on

the spot. Five cattle, a pickup vehicle, an illegal pistol, and cartridges were

recovered from the accused. The injured smuggler is receiving treatment. A case

has been registered against all the accused under relevant sections and further

legal action is being taken.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi