Varanasi: In a significant operation, Vindhyachal police arrested three members of a cattle smuggling gang in Mirzapur district on Tuesday following an encounter. One of the smugglers sustained a bullet injury during the exchange of fire and was subsequently sent to the hospital for treatment. The police also seized an illegal country-made pistol with cartridges, five cattle, and a pickup vehicle from the accused.
Police Operation Based on Directives
Mirzapur Superintendent of Police Aparna Rajat Kaushik had directed all in-charge inspectors and station house officers of the district to focus on crime prevention and apprehension of criminals involved in cattle smuggling. Acting on these directives, the Vindhyachal police received specific information that cattle were being smuggled in a pickup vehicle.
Chase and Encounter
A police team led by Inspector Ajit Kumar Singh chased the pickup vehicle from Gaipura. The suspects fled towards Lalganj. When the vehicle was surrounded near Dadar Pahari on Lalganj Road, the criminals opened fire on the police team in an attempt to avoid arrest. The police retaliated, and during the exchange, one of the accused, Rohit Yadav of Chandauli district, suffered a bullet injury in his leg and fell down.
Arrests and Seizures
Injured Rohit, along with two other accomplices—Ashok Yadav of Chandauli and Rajiv Tiwari of Mirzapur district—were arrested. The police recovered a country-made pistol, cartridges, five cattle, and the pickup vehicle used in the smuggling operation.
A case has been registered at Vindhyachal police station, and further legal action is being taken as per rules, police said.
