Varanasi: Lalganj police team in Mirzapur district arrested a cow smuggler carrying a Rs 25,000 reward after an encounter on Wednesday. The police seized one country-made pistol and cartridges from the criminal’s possession.Acting on a tip-off about the movement of the smuggler on a motorcycle from Naidi Kathari towards Gadbadha Dham road, the police team led by inspector-in charge, Ved Prakash Pandey, intercepted the accused near the culvert on the road.The accused, in an attempt to evade arrest, fired at the police team. In retaliatory action, the police also fired, injuring the criminal in the leg, and arrested him.The arrested criminal was identified as Gufran (27), a resident of Ghurmabad, district Rohtas, Bihar. Police seized one country-made pistol, two live cartridges, one spent cartridge, cash worth Rs 37,500 and a motorcycle without a number plate found in the criminal’s possession.He was sent to Sadar Hospital for treatment. A case under section 109(1) BNS and Sections 3/25/27 of the Arms Act has been registered at Lalganj police station against him. Further legal action is underway.During interrogation, the accused said that he belongs to Gopiganj, district Bhadohi, and currently resides in Rohtas district of Bihar. He told police that he buys cattle at low prices from Allahabad and Madhya Pradesh border areas and sells them in Bihar at higher prices for profit. He had come to Mirzapur district for the same purpose.
