Cattle smugglers arrested after encounter in Dehat

Kanpur: The Kanpur Dehat police arrested two notorious cattle smugglers after an encounter late Tuesday night in the Shivli police station area. Both accused sustained bullet injuries in their legs during retaliatory firing by police and were taken into custody.

According to police, a team was conducting routine vehicle checking at Hridaypur turn on Bairi Maitha Road between Tuesday and Wednesday night when a suspicious motorcycle was signalled to stop. Instead of complying, the riders attempted to flee. When they found themselves surrounded, the accused allegedly opened fire on the police team. Police retaliated in self-defence, injuring both suspects and arresting them on the spot.


The arrested accused were identified as Mohar Singh (33) and Raju alias Raju Banjara (38), residents of Teen Tapariya, Kota district in Rajasthan. During interrogation, they confessed to their involvement in a cattle smuggling incident that took place on December 11, 2025, under the Shivli police station limits.

Police recovered two country-made 315-bore pistols, two empty cartridges, three live cartridges, two mobile phones, and the motorcycle used by the accused. Both injured men were admitted to a community health centre for treatment.

A case was registered at Shivli police station under Section 109(1) of the BNS and Sections 3/25/27 of the Arms Act. Police said both accused have criminal histories, with more than half a dozen cases registered against them in different districts under the Cow Slaughter Prevention Act and the Gangster Act.

Rasoolabad CO Alok Kumar said teams were formed to crack the cattle smuggling case following inputs from an informer. "When the accused tried to flee and fired at the police, necessary action was taken in self-defence. Both were apprehended with bullet injuries in their legs," he said.