The smugglers were in a mini truck, which was also carrying at least half a dozen cows.
Highlights
- Man allegedly smuggling cattle died during a shootout
- Three members of a local Gau Raksha Dal have been detained by police
- Smugglers were in a mini truck, carrying at least half a dozen cows
A man allegedly smuggling cattle died in Haryana's Karnal district during a shootout early on Thursday morning. Three members of a local Gau Raksha Dal (Save cow campaigners), have been detained by the police in the case. The deceased is yet to be identified.
Locals said a group of cattle smugglers had been intercepted by members of the Gau Raksha Dal as they entered Haryana from Punjab.
The smugglers were in a mini truck, which was also carrying at least half a dozen cows. The men from the Gau Raksha Dal were in an SUV, with blue beacon, said an eyewitness.
The two groups exchanged fire, the locals said. Later in the day, the police recovered the bullet ridden body of a man, aged around 30 years. The field was strewn with cartridge cases and a double-barreled gun was also found at the spot.
'We are investigating the matter. We have impounded the vehicle which was carrying the cows," said Pankaj Nain, the superintendent of Police, Karnal.
The right-leaning Gau Raksha Dal is found in almost every district of Haryana.
In April, the body of another suspected cattle smuggler found in Kurukshetra. Investigations revealed that he was a resident of Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh, who had come to Haryana to purchase a bull. He had been killed at least a month ago.
After the police failed to arrest the culprits, the High Court ordered a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation.