A suspected cow smuggler was injured in an encounter with police in Haryana’s Nuh district after alleged cow smugglers opened fire on a police team during a late-night chase on the Nuh-Hodal road near the Mumbai Expressway.
In retaliatory firing, one accused, identified as Hammas, a resident of Utawad, sustained bullet injuries in both legs and was later admitted to Nalhar Medical College for treatment.
Police recovered a country-made pistol, 10 live cartridges and three empty shells from the spot. Four cattle — including two cows, a bull and a calf — were rescued from the vehicle.
Two other accused managed to escape, while police rescued four cattle that were allegedly being transported in a modified Eco ambulance vehicle towards Uttar Pradesh for slaughter.
According to police, the CIA Nuh team, led by Sub-Inspector Mahender Singh, was conducting patrol and crime prevention checks near the expressway when they received a tip-off that some residents of Utawad village were smuggling cattle in an ambulance vehicle.
Police set up a barricade on the Nuh-Hodal road and attempted to stop the suspicious vehicle. However, the driver allegedly accelerated and the occupants opened fire at the police team while trying to flee.
During the chase, the vehicle’s tyre burst, but the accused continued driving before abandoning the vehicle near Sarpanch Dhaba and escaping towards nearby fields, police said. The accused allegedly continued firing at the police while fleeing.
A case has been registered at Nuh Sadar police station under relevant sections, and teams have been formed to trace the absconding accused.
