Cow Slaughter Gang Members Injured in Police Encounter in Azamgarh
In a dramatic late-night operation, two members of a gang involved in cow slaughter were apprehended after suffering bullet injuries in their legs during a police encounter in Azamgarh. The incident occurred early Tuesday at Demri Maqdoompur in the Saraimir area, highlighting ongoing efforts to combat illegal cattle activities in the region.
Police Action Based on Tip-off Leads to Confrontation
Azamgarh CO (Phoolpur) Kiranpal Singh reported that Saraimir police officers, while conducting routine night patrols, received credible intelligence about cattle smugglers transporting animals via the Didarganj-Saraymir route. Acting swiftly on this information, the police cordoned off the Demri Maqdoompur area and initiated vehicle checks to intercept the suspects.
According to the CO, when a pickup van approached the checkpoint, the criminals attempted to forcefully break through the police barrier to evade capture. When this failed, they abandoned the vehicle and opened fire at the officers in a desperate bid to escape. The police responded, leading to an exchange of gunfire that resulted in two suspects being shot in the leg, while two others managed to flee the scene.
Recovery of Evidence and Arrest of Suspects
The injured suspects, identified as Rafiq alias Tony and Rahul Yadav, were immediately transported to a nearby hospital for medical treatment. During a subsequent search, police recovered the abandoned pickup van, which contained a prohibited animal, along with two pistols, multiple cartridges, a significant amount of cash, and other suspicious items.
During interrogation, Rafiq and Rahul Yadav confessed to operating in an organized manner, specifically targeting stray cattle from areas near the Jaunpur border and transporting them to Demri Makdumpur in the pickup van for slaughter. They also revealed that their accomplices, Salman and Mannan, were the ones who escaped during the encounter.
History of Criminal Activities and Previous Escape
This incident is not the first run-in with the law for Rafiq and Rahul Yadav. The duo had previously escaped from police custody on December 16, 2025, following a raid at a cemetery in Demri Makdumpur where they were caught slaughtering a cow. In that earlier operation, police had recovered beef, knives, cleavers, and other incriminating evidence, leading to the filing of an FIR.
The recent encounter underscores the persistent challenges faced by law enforcement in curbing organized cow slaughter and cattle smuggling activities in the region. Authorities continue to investigate the broader network involved in these illegal operations.
