Man accused of cattle smuggling caught in police encounter

Varanasi: Sadat police in Ghazipur district arrested an alleged cattle smuggler, Suraj Yadav, following an exchange of fire late on Sunday night. Apart from lodging cases of cattle smuggling against Suraj, police also booked him under the Gangster Act.Regarding the late-night action, Ghazipur CO (Saidpur), Ramkrishna Tiwari said on Monday that on being tipped off regarding the movement of criminals, a team of Sadat police station cordoned off Khidirganj crossing and started checking passers-by late on Sunday night. During the checking drive, the police tried to intercept a motorcycle rider on noticing his bid to dodge them and escape.However, when the cops tried to chase him, the motorcycle rider opened fire on the police team, said the CO, adding that the police team kept chasing him and, during retaliatory firing by them, the miscreant suffered a bullet injury in the leg while trying to enter a field near Rampur Itwa after targeting fire at the police party. After seizing a firearm, a cartridge and the motorcycle, police rushed him to hospital.The CO said that the injured criminal was identified as Suraj Yadav alias Nagendra of Khidirgunj. He was being searched for in cases lodged under sections of the Cow Slaughter Prevention Act, and a cash reward of Rs25,000 was announced on him.