Varanasi: A man accused of cattle smuggling was arrested in a police encounter in Jaunpur district on Friday morning.Tejibazar police received information about the suspect transporting cattle in a pickup vehicle from Haiderpur towards Jaunpur. Acting on the tip-off, police set up a cordon near Makhdumpur Tiraha.A suspicious white pickup without a number plate, followed by a motorcycle, was seen coming from Haiderpur. When the vehicles were signalled to stop, the pickup driver allegedly tried to flee and turned towards Makhdumpur near Puramohabbat village, said police. The vehicle lost control and got stuck near a ditch.One of the accused, who was riding pillion on the motorcycle, allegedly opened fire at the police team. In retaliatory firing, one of them got injured in the leg and was arrested, while his associates escaped, taking advantage of the darkness.The injured accused was identified as Chhotu (22), a resident of Revsa village under Alinagar police station limits in Chandauli district. He was sent to hospital for treatment.Police have seized one cow and three bulls, found tied with ropes in the vehicle, a country-made .315 bore pistol, one spent cartridge stuck in the chamber, one misfired cartridge, the pickup vehicle and a motorcycle found in their possession.A case has been registered at Tejibazar police station under BNS Section 109(1), relevant sections of the Cow Slaughter Prevention Act, the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, and the Arms Act. Police said Chhotu has previous criminal cases registered against him in Chandauli district.In Ghazipur district, a joint team of Dildarnagar police and Zamania Kotwali police arrested five alleged buffalo thieves during an encounter on Thursday.Police said the team was on night patrol near Phulli Mor when it received information that suspected buffalo thieves were present in the Raksaha Kanshiram Awas Yojana area. When police raided the area, the accused allegedly opened fire. In retaliatory firing, one of the accused got injured in his right leg and was sent to CHC Bhadaura.The injured accused was identified as Ramkumar (25), a resident of Belhari village under Mohania police station limits in Kaimur Bhabua district of Bihar.Four others were arrested from the spot. They were identified as Rifan Sheikh, a resident of JD Nagar Colony, Paharia, under Sarnath police station limits in Varanasi; Bimlesh Nat, a resident of Belhari, Mohania, Kaimur Bhabua, Bihar; Shabi Haider alias Guddu, a resident of Padaav Sabzi Mandi under Mughalsarai police station limits in Chandauli; and Mohammad Arif, a resident of Kanshiram Awas, Mughalsarai, under Alinagar police station limits in Chandauli.Police have seized an illegal .315 bore pistol, one spent cartridge, one live cartridge, one pickup vehicle, one Scorpio vehicle, one stolen buffalo, and ₹62,000 in cash found in their possession. A case has been registered and further legal action is underway.
