Saharanpur (UP), April 8 A man allegedly involved in cattle smuggling was arrested after a police encounter left him injured in the Saharanpur district of Uttar Pradesh, officials said on Wednesday.
Police said that a .315 caliber country-made pistol, two live cartridges, two spent shells, tools used for slaughtering cattle, and a live bovine were allegedly recovered from his possession.
Circle Officer Munish Chandra told
A police team was patrolling the Budhakheda–Sanganor road when they received information about some persons allegedly planning to slaughter cattle near the Ghataheda village.
On reaching the spot, the police saw two persons with a bovine near a mango tree in an orchard. When the police challenged them, the accused allegedly opened fire with the intent to kill, he said.
In retaliatory firing in self-defense, one of the accused sustained a bullet injury in his right leg and was apprehended, while the other managed to escape under the cover of darkness.
The arrested accused was identified as Usman alias Mani, a resident of Kamela Colony under the Qutub Sher police station and currently living in Budhakheda under the Chilkana police station area.
The injured accused has been admitted to the district hospital and further legal proceedings are underway. Efforts are on to apprehend the absconding accomplice, with combing operations in progress, the police said.
According to the police, the accused has around one-and-a-half dozen cases registered against him, including those under the Arms Act, the NDPS Act, and for cattle smuggling and theft.