Chandauli Police Arrest Rs 25,000 Bounty Fugitive
Chandauli police arrested Manish Singh, a fugitive with a Rs 25,000 bounty, in connection with a major cow smuggling case involving a Bolero pickup.
In a significant breakthrough in a cow smuggling investigation, the Chandauli police have successfully apprehended a fugitive carrying a bounty of Rs 25,000. The accused, identified as 39-year-old Manish Singh, was captured during a coordinated crackdown involving multiple specialized police units.
The High-Stakes Operation
The arrest was the result of a meticulous joint operation conducted by the Saiyadraja police, the SWAT team, and the surveillance unit. Authorities tracked Singh to his rented accommodation in the Belwa Baba Lamhi area under the Lalpur police station limits in Varanasi. Singh, a resident of Shivrampur Kala in Jaunpur, had been on the run following a high-profile smuggling incident.
Flashback to the Smuggling Incident
The case traces back to June 5, 2026, when law enforcement officers were performing routine checks at the Zamania intersection. Acting on intelligence provided by a confidential informant, the police established a strategic checkpoint near the NH-02 Bhateeja Mod cut.
As the checkpoint was being set up, a white Bolero pickup truck approached from the direction of Chandauli. Rather than complying with the police signal to stop, the driver accelerated and attempted to evade the officers by fleeing into the adjacent fields. Upon inspecting the abandoned vehicle, the police discovered a grim scene:
- Eight cows were found tied inside the vehicle in a cruel manner.
- Six animals were found alive.
- Two animals were found dead.
Investigation and Confession
Initially, a case was registered at the Saiyadraja police station against the vehicle's owner, Ramjit Singh, and an unidentified driver. However, as the investigation deepened, police identified the driver as Manish Singh, the son of the vehicle owner.
During intensive interrogation following his arrest, Manish Singh reportedly confessed to the crime. He admitted that he had abandoned the livestock-laden vehicle in a desperate attempt to escape the police presence at the intersection.
Legal Consequences
The accused now faces a stringent set of legal charges, including violations under:
- The Prevention of Cow Slaughter Act
- The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act
- Relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS)
The successful operation was carried out by a dedicated team including Station House Officer Ashok Kumar Mishra, Sub-Inspector Balbir Singh, Head Constable Dinesh Yadav, SWAT-Surveillance Team Inspector Ram Janam Yadav, and Sub-Inspector Ashish Mishra, along with other police personnel. Following the apprehension, the police have initiated standard legal proceedings to bring the matter to trial.