Assam: Two alleged cattle smugglers killed in firing by unknown assailants

Uttar Pradesh: Two cattle smugglers who were arrested last week in Uttar Pradesh got killed on Tuesday in Assam's Kokrajhar district in firing by unknown assailants while they were being taken to trace their smuggling routes, a senior police officer said.

Four police personnel also sustained injuries in the incident and a police vehicle was damaged.

The police said that the attack happened around 1.15 am when the smugglers were being taken to the Jamduar area of the district for identification of smuggling routes along the Sankosh river.

According to the police, the vehicle carrying the duo "came under the ambush of extremists near Jamduar," following which the personnel jumped out of the car to take a position in nearby spots to fire back at the "extremists". However, the arrested accused failed to get out of the car and sustained bullet injuries.

The police also said that roads were blocked with felled trees at the incident site.

After taking cover, the police personnel retaliated and the firing between the two sides lasted for 10-12 minutes.

The deceased, Akbar Banjara and Salman, were arrested on 13 April by the Meerut Police and were handed over to the Assam Police.

Residents of the Falawada area in Meerut, the duo had cases of cattle smuggling registered in both Meerut and Kokrajhar. On alert, a contingent of Assam police came down to Meerut and took them in custody after serving a warrant. 

Assam police had announced a reward of Rs 2 lakh for Akbar's arrest. The reward money was handed over to Meerut police by their Assam counterparts, UP police had informed in a tweet on 15 April.

"Two cattle smugglers were killed and four police personnel injured during a gunfight in the Gossaigaon area, Kokrajhar district, last night. We have recovered one AK series rifle & ammunition from the spot. Search operation underway," Kokrajhar SP Thube Prateek Vijaykumar said on Tuesday, 19 April. 

"After sensing no danger, the police party immediately evacuated the injured accused persons from the vehicle and sent them in another vehicle for treatment at Saraibil Primary Health Centre," the police said, adding that the duo was declared brought dead by the on-duty doctor.

One AK-47 rifle, two magazines, 35 rounds of live ammunition, and 28 rounds of empty bullet shells were recovered from the site. 

The two had been booked under Sections 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace), 506 (criminal intimidation), 406 (criminal breach of trust), 386 (extortion), 420 (Cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property), 120 B (criminal conspiracy) as well as other relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Additionally, the two were also booked under stringent sections of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animal Act and the Prevention of Cow Slaughter Act. They had been sent to police custody in Assam on the basis of a warrant registered for an animal cruelty case against the duo in Kokrajhar.