One alleged cow smuggler killed and one seriously injured in police encounter at Kurukshetra.

Kurukshetra, November 29--- An old famous Bombay movie with police chasing smugglers and indulging into encounters was enacted at Kurukshetra, last night. The only difference was that in movies of 70’s police used to chase gold smugglers but in this case the smuggling item was stray cows.

One person was killed and another was seriously injured in an encounter of the alleged smugglers with the police near new grain market here last night while they were trying to escape with a few stray animals in their pick-up.

According to Superintendent of Police (SP), Simardeep Singh following a tip off from someone from the grain market that few stray animals were being loaded by few persons in their jeep, the police chased the vehicle and intercepted, the accused hit the police vehicles, pelted stones and also opened fire at the police personnel with an intention to kill them. In retaliation, the police also fired upon the accused in which one of the unknown accused died and another got injured.

In a press conference, SP further said that while the injured was rushed to hospital the remaining three to four accused managed to escape. The pickup jeep bearing number HR 58 B 7828 was left abandoned at the new grain market. Upon inspection the vehicle 2 cows and 2 Bulls were found in the rear of the jeep. He said that one ‘desi katta’ (country made revolver) along with 4 live cartridges and one mobile phone were found near the body of the deceased.

He said that with the help of abandoned mobile, the deceased was identified as Abid son of Shaheed resident of Lapra, Jagadhari and the injured was identified as AAs Mohamad s/o Rais Khan r/o Lapra, Jagadhari. He said that both the accused have past crime record in district Ambala and Yamunanager. There are 8 criminal cases registered against Abid and 7 cases against Aas Mohamad.

According to SP an FIR under section 307 IPC, 25-54-59 Arms Act, and 13(2) Gauvansh Sanrakshan and Gausamvardhan Act 2015, have been registered at the police station City Thanesar, on the complaint of Assistant Sub-Inspector of CIA-1 against some unknown persons who were smuggling cows in a pickup.  Aas Mohamad in serious condition has been shifted to PGI at Chandigarh.   

In reply to a question that how many rounds were fired by police, SP maintained that two to three weapons were used by the police in the retaliating encounter with smugglers. As mandatory, the deputy commissioner has ordered the Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Thanesar, to conduct an enquiry into the encounter.

In reply to question that how the police arrived to the conclusion that the animals were stolen with the intent for slaughtering only, he said that it is presumed that non-milking animals are stolen with the intent to slaughter. He said that the provisions of newly enacted Gauvansh Sanrakshan and Gausamvardhan Act 2015 are very stringent and probably it has been evoked in this case for the first time in Haryana.

In another similar incidence, a tempo carrying 14 animals mostly cows and bulls, got over turned near Umri village 8 kms from here when members of Gau Rakshak Sewa Dal and a police party chased the vehicle. According to SP, the smugglers managed to escape leaving the animals and vehicle on the spot. Police is investigating the case.