Mirzapur,

14 Dec (HS): In a shootout between police and cow smugglers late Saturday night

in the Ahraura police station area of ​​Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh, a notorious

cow smuggler was injured and arrested, while two of his accomplices escaped

taking advantage of the darkness. Police recovered 21 cattle being taken for

slaughter, an illegal 12-bore gun, and cartridges from the scene. This major

success was achieved by the Ahraura police team, led by Additional

Superintendent of Police and Circle Officer Operations Manjari Rao. Police had

received information from an informant that some cow smugglers were

transporting cattle on foot through the Ahraura forest via Chandauli towards

Bihar. Acting on this information, the police team attempted to stop the

smugglers by laying siege near the village of Hinauta Chhaton, in the southern

forest (Bhaldariya) on the route to Baiju Baba Tapasthali.

Seeing

themselves cornered, the smugglers opened fire on the police team with intent

to kill and began running. Police retaliated in self-defense, shooting one

smuggler in the left leg, while two others fled the scene. The injured and

arrested accused has been identified as Sandeep alias Munna Rai, son of the

late Ramnath Rai, resident of village Udayrampur, police station Chainpur,

district Kaimur (Bhabua), Bihar, approximately 37 years old. He was taken to

the hospital under police custody for treatment, where his condition is

reported to be normal.

Police

recovered an illegal 12-bore gun, three live cartridges, two empty cartridges,

and 21 cattle from the accused. A case has been registered at Ahraura police

station and legal action is being taken. In this regard, Inspector in-charge

Ahraura Sadanand Singh said that the search for the absconding smugglers is

continuing and the campaign to break the network of cow smuggling will be

further intensified.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi