Saharanpur, February 13 Two men accused of cow slaughter were injured in a police encounter in the Gangoh area here, and a calf, firearms, and slaughtering tools were recovered from their possession, police said on Friday.
Circle Officer of Gangoh, Ashok Sisodia, said that the district police have been conducting intensive checking drives to curb crime.
On the intervening night of Thursday and Friday, a police team received information that some people were taking a cow into the forest near Kunda Kala village for slaughter.
Acting on the tip-off, police set up a checkpoint on the Kunda-Bidauli Road. Around eight people were spotted walking with a cow. When signalled to stop, the group allegedly opened fire at the police team, Sisodia said.
Police retaliated, injuring two of the suspects in their legs. They were identified as Ahsan alias Sameer and Mahmood – residents of Kunda Kala village – and arrested on the spot, he said.
The others managed to escape, taking advantage of the darkness, he said, adding that efforts are underway to identify and arrest them.
Sisodia said the arrested men are habitual offenders previously involved in cow slaughter cases.
