Azamgarh,

05 March (HS): The police achieved a major success last night in the ongoing

campaign against cow smuggling in Azamgarh district of Uttar Pradesh. Two

separate encounters took place between the police and cow smugglers in the

Nizamabad and Phulpur police station areas of the district. In both incidents,

the police arrested four cow smugglers, including a history-sheeter, two of

whom were injured by gunfire. Illegal pistols, cartridges, axes, mobile phones,

and a stolen motorcycle were recovered from their possession.

The

first encounter occurred in the Nizamabad police station area late night when

police were checking suspicious individuals and vehicles to maintain peace in

the area ahead of the colorful Holi. Late night, police received information

that Meraj, wanted in a case under the Cow Slaughter Prevention Act, was

traveling toward Nevada with his accomplice, Nasir, on a motorcycle without a

license plate, in search of stray cattle. Acting on the information, a police

team established a cordon near the Nevada bridge.

After

some time, suspicious motorcyclists reached there. Police tried to stop them,

but they started running away. When chased, the accused opened fire on the police

team with the intention to kill them. Police warned them several times to

surrender, but the criminals kept firing. After this, the police retaliated in

self-defense, in which Meraj got shot in his right leg. The injured Meraj was

arrested from the bushes near Nevada bridge and sent to the hospital, while his

companion Nasir escaped taking advantage of the darkness. Police recovered an

illegal pistol, cartridges, mobile, Rs 840 cash and a stolen motorcycle from

the spot.

CO

Sadar Aastha Jaiswal said that the arrested Meraj is a history-sheeter criminal

and more than 17 cases including Cow Slaughter Prevention Act, Arms Act,

Gangster are registered against him.

The

second encounter took place in the Phulpur police station area. On the night of

Holi, police received information that some suspicious individuals were

planning to commit a crime near a culvert near Mudiyar village. Acting on the

information, a police team arrived at the scene and cordoned off the area. Upon

seeing the police, the criminals opened fire. In retaliation, one criminal,

Aamir, was shot in the left leg, while his two associates, Saqib and Yusuf,

were arrested at the scene.

The

police have recovered an illegal pistol, live and empty cartridges, two axes

and two mobile phones from the possession of the accused. CO Phulpur Kiran Pal

Singh said that during interrogation the accused told that they used to catch

cattle in deserted places and slaughter them illegally and after cutting the

meat into small pieces, they used to sell it at high prices. After the

incident, to destroy the evidence, they used to throw the remains in the river

or drains. The police have registered a case against all the accused under

relevant sections and have started further action, while raids are being

conducted to search for the absconding accused.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi