8 cattle smugglers arrested in Bahraich

BAHRAICH: Eight members of a cattle smugglers’ gang were arrested in the Rupaidiha area of Bahraich on the India-Nepal border on Friday, police said. The gang members tried to crush the Rupaidiha police team with their vehicle during a chase, police added.

Superintendent of police Gaurav Grover said he had been getting information that the gang was involved in lifting cows from the border areas and smuggling them to Nepal in private vehicles. Grover announced a reward of Rs 5,000 for the police team which nabbed the alleged cattle smugglers.

Police registered a case under Section 3/25 of the Arms Act, Section 207 of the Motor Vehicles Act, Section 307 of the Indian Penal Code, Section 3/5A/8 of the Prevention of Cow Slaughter Act and Section 11 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animal Act, police said.

Those arrested were historysheeters with about 45 previous cases registered against them, police added.

Police said they recovered a .12 bore pistol, two live cartridges and cattle from the smugglers.

During interrogation, the gang members revealed they used to lift stray cows at night and then smuggle them to Nepal, police said.

Those arrested were identified as Basheer, Sher Khan, Arif, Naseem, Rafeeq, Shafeeq, Shareef and Sharbat Ali, all resident of Banjaran Tanda area of Nanpara in Bahraich, police said.