Cow ‘smuggler’ shot dead in Saharanpur encounter

Meerut: An alleged cow smuggler carrying a bounty of Rs 1 lakh was shot dead in a police encounter in Saharanpur district on Wednesday evening. Two policemen also sustained bullet injuries during the exchange of fire. A search operation is underway to apprehend his accomplice who fled the scene, police said Thursday.Police said Mohd Shahzad, 40, a resident of Gandewara village under Fatehpur police station limit, had 44 criminal cases registered against him across multiple police stations and was absconding since Feb. SSP Abhinandan Singh said a joint team from Mirzapur and Fatehpur police laid a trap near Sherpur Pailo village based on specific intelligence regarding Shahzad's movements. "Shahzad and his accomplice were coming from Vikasnagar side of Uttarakhand. When police signalled them to stop, Shahzad opened fire on the team. He sustained bullet injuries in retaliatory firing," the SSP said. Two constables -- Somendra Kumar and Kuldeep Kumar-- were also injured in their arms. All three were rushed to district hospital where doctors declared Shahzad dead, said the SSP.While Shahzad's accomplice managed to escape under the cover of darkness, police recovered a pistol from the scene. "Shahzad was wanted in several cases of cow slaughter and had evaded arrest in incidents reported in Behat and Nagal police station areas. He was also involved in previous encounter cases in Fatehpur and Nagal, where he managed to flee after firing at police," SSP Singh said. From 2013, Shahzad faced various cases for attempt to murder, theft, cow slaughter and animal cruelty, Arms Act, Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, Uttar Pradesh Cow Slaughter Act, and Gangster Act, said police.