In a dramatic late-night operation, police in Uttar Pradesh's Ballia district apprehended a suspected cattle smuggler following a brief exchange of gunfire. The incident unfolded on a road near the river, leading to the arrest of the individual and the subsequent seizure of a cattle-laden truck.
Late-Night Encounter on Kharid Road
The sequence of events began late on Wednesday night when officers from the Sikandarpur police station were conducting a routine vehicle check. The checkpoint was set up on the road leading from Kharid towards the river. According to Ballia ASP (Northern) Dinesh Kumar Shukla, who addressed the media on Thursday, a person riding a motorcycle was signalled to stop for inspection.
Instead of complying, the biker attempted to flee the scene. However, in his haste, he lost control, slipped, and fell on the road. Finding himself surrounded by police personnel, the man resorted to desperate measures. He opened fire at the police team in a bid to escape custody.
Retaliatory Firing Leads to Arrest
The police team immediately responded with retaliatory fire to neutralize the threat. In the ensuing exchange, the suspect sustained a bullet injury in his leg. This injury effectively incapacitated him, allowing the police to take him into custody. He was later identified as Brajesh, a resident of Ghosi in the neighbouring Mau district.
After securing the scene, the police recovered several crucial pieces of evidence from the accused. These included:
- A pistol used by the suspect
- Live cartridges
- The motorcycle he was riding
The injured Brajesh was promptly rushed to a nearby hospital for medical treatment under police guard.
Unraveling the Cattle Smuggling Racket
During subsequent questioning, the arrested individual divulged key information about his activities. Brajesh confessed that he was heading towards the state of Bihar with a truck full of cattle. Acting swiftly on this intelligence, the police intercepted the said truck. His accomplice, who was driving the truck, was also arrested on the spot, and the vehicle was seized.
It was revealed that Brajesh, upon seeing the police checkpoint, had allegedly made a separate attempt to escape on his motorcycle, which led to the confrontation. The successful operation highlights the ongoing efforts by police in the region to curb illegal cattle smuggling, particularly along inter-state routes.
