Azamgarh Encounter: Two Brothers Held After Gunfight Over Cow Slaughter
Police in Azamgarh arrested two brothers after a gunfight. One suspect was injured during the encounter involving cow slaughter charges.
A high-drama police operation in Azamgarh, Uttar Pradesh, ended with the arrest of two brothers after a violent encounter. The suspects, accused of cow slaughter, allegedly opened fire on police officers, leading to a retaliatory exchange that left one of the men injured.
The Midnight Blockade
The incident unfolded on Sunday night in the Gambhirpur police station area. Station House Officer Amit Kumar Tripathi and his team were conducting routine vehicle and suspect checks when they received a critical intelligence tip. The report indicated that individuals from Sarsena Khalsa village were transporting the remains of a slaughtered prohibited animal on a motorcycle.
Acting swiftly, the police established a blockade near the Kharati-Aavak intersection to intercept the suspects. As the two men on a motorcycle approached and spotted the police presence, they attempted to flee the scene.
Exchange of Fire
When the police successfully intercepted the duo, the situation escalated rapidly. According to officials, the suspects fired upon the police team with the intent to kill. The officers returned fire in self-defense, resulting in a gunshot wound to the left leg of 42-year-old Jamil.
Following the clash, Jamil was immediately shifted to the Primary Health Center in Muhammadpur for medical treatment. His 30-year-old brother, Salman, was also apprehended during the operation.
Seizures and Shocking Revelations
Upon searching the suspects, the police recovered a significant amount of incriminating evidence, including:
- 10 kilograms of prohibited meat and animal remains.
- An iron cleaver.
- A .315 bore country-made pistol.
- Two spent cartridges and one misfired cartridge.
- The motorcycle used for transport.
During preliminary interrogations, the brothers—sons of the late Mobin and residents of Lahbaria, Sarsena Khalsa—revealed the scale of their operation. They admitted to catching stray prohibited animals, slaughtering them in secluded areas, and selling the meat for profit. Most alarmingly, they confessed that the money earned from this illegal trade was used to purchase illegal firearms.
A History of Crime
Police records indicate that this was not the first brush with the law for the younger brother. Salman has a documented criminal history, with previous cases registered against him under the Prevention of Cow Slaughter Act in 2017 and the Gangster Act in 2018.
The authorities have now registered a formal case against both Jamil and Salman under the relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Prevention of Cow Slaughter Act, and the Arms Act. Investigations are currently ongoing to identify and arrest other associates involved in the slaughter and smuggling ring.