A man accused in a cow slaughter case in Uttar Pradesh’s Baghpat district was arrested following a police encounter on Tuesday night, 28th July, while another accused was taken into custody from her house. Police said the search is still on for the remaining two suspects.
According to the police, the incident began on Tuesday after they received information that cow slaughter was taking place inside a house in Fauladnagar village of Baghpat district under the Doghat police station area. When the police team reached the spot and knocked on the locked door, the accused escaped by jumping over the boundary wall into nearby fields.
After breaking open the door, the police entered the house and recovered the cow meat, the animal’s severed head, hide, weighing scales and knives from one of the rooms. A veterinary officer also reached the spot, collected samples of the recovered remains and said they would be sent to a laboratory in Agra for examination.
Following the incident, a case was registered against Shahid, Javed, Wajid and Wasima, wife of Shahid. Police formed three teams to trace the accused.
Accused injured during police encounter
Later the same night, at around 9 pm, police said they spotted one of the accused, Javed, during a checking operation in the forest area near Sarora village. According to the police, Javed opened fire on the team after being surrounded.
In retaliatory firing, Javed sustained a bullet injury to his right leg and was arrested. He was later admitted to the district hospital for treatment. Police also claimed to have recovered a country-made pistol and cartridges from his possession.
Search continues for remaining accused
Doghat Station House Officer Keval Singh said another named accused, Wasima, was also arrested from her residence.
“Apart from Javed’s arrest in the encounter, the named woman accused, Wasima, wife of Shahid, has also been arrested from her house. Police teams are continuously conducting raids to arrest the absconding accused Shahid and Wajid,” he said.
Meanwhile, local cow protection activists who reached the spot after the recovery had demanded the immediate arrest of those involved. Police assured them that a case had been registered and that no accused would be spared. The investigation into the case is continuing.
