A group of cattle smugglers was intercepted near the Nuh-Hodal road on Tuesday morning, leading to an encounter in which one of the accused was injured while the other two managed to flee. The trio were transporting two cows, one bull, and one calf in an Eeco car that was modified to function as an ambulance. The cattle were rescued after the incident.
Details of the Encounter
According to police, the encounter took place when a Crime Branch team, led by sub-inspector Mahendra Singh, was on patrol duty near the Mumbai Expressway. Acting on a tip-off that some residents of Utaward village were transporting cattle towards Uttar Pradesh for slaughter, police laid a barricade on the road to intercept the vehicle, an officer said.
The ambulance appeared suspicious to the team, and it was signalled to stop. However, on seeing the police party, the driver accelerated the vehicle and the occupants opened fire on the police team in an attempt to flee, the officer added.
Chase and Arrest
Police chased the vehicle for several kilometres before one of its tyres was punctured. Following this, the accused abandoned the vehicle near Sarpanch Dhaba and attempted to escape on foot into nearby fields while continuing to fire at the police team, the officer said. During retaliatory firing by the police, one accused, Hamas, 43, a resident of Uttawar village, Palwal, sustained bullet injuries in both legs. He was overpowered and taken to Nalhar Medical College in Nuh for treatment. The two others managed to escape, the officer added.
Background of the Accused
Hamas has four cases registered against him in Nuh district, one in 2017, one in 2018, and two in 2020. He was arrested in July 2022 and was later granted bail in all four cases.
Recovery and Legal Action
Investigators said the animals were tied with ropes and packed tightly inside the ambulance. The police team also recovered a country-made pistol, 10 live cartridges, and three empty shells from the spot. A case has been registered at Nuh Sadar police station. Efforts are on to arrest the absconding accused, the officer added.
This incident highlights the ongoing issue of cattle smuggling in the region, with police continuing to crack down on such activities.
