Police in Uttar Pradesh’s Meerut district apprehended three Delhi-based men suspected of cow slaughter following an encounter late Thursday night. According to Additional Superintendent of Police (Rural) Rakesh Kumar Mishra, the incident occurred near the Shahjahanpur Raghana canal within the Mawana police station area, report the Hindustan Times.
The arrested individuals, identified as Akash, Gopal, and Alok – nomads residing in Delhi’s Paharganj locality – are accused of slaughtering three bulls on November 5 in the fields of Tigri village. Following this incident, a formal case was registered against them.
On Thursday night, a police team conducting vehicle checks attempted to stop the suspects, who were traveling by motorcycle. Instead of halting, the men reportedly tried to flee, initiating a police pursuit. Mishra reported that the suspects opened fire on the police, who returned fire in self-defence. One of the men, Akash, sustained a gunshot wound to his left leg and was subsequently admitted to hospital. The other two suspects, Gopal and Alok, were detained after attempting to hide in a nearby sugarcane field.
The police recovered a motorcycle, a pistol, and cartridges from the accused, who now face legal proceedings.