In another incident of cow meat smuggling in Uttar Pradesh, a policeman was almost run over by two smugglers when they sped away seeing the police.
According to a report in Jagran, late on Wednesday night, policemen on patrol noticed a car standing at a puncture repair shop near the petrol pump in Gajraula area. Two young men who had stopped for repairing the punctured tyre reportedly panicked seeing the police vehicle and started speeding away in the car.
Being suspicious of their behaviour, the police vehicle also gave chase. While passing near the local police station on their way, the police constable standing near the station tried to stop the car.
The smugglers almost ran the constable over as they kept speeding away in their car. The car allegedly ran over his foot. Noticing that the police vehicle was still chasing them at a distance, the smugglers then reportedly abandoned the car at a desolate location and escaped on foot.
When the police vehicle chasing the car arrived and examined, they found 4 quintals of cow meat inside the car. The report has quoted the veterinarian called by the police as saying that prima facie, the meat found inside the car is cow meat, however, samples will be sent to a laboratory to officially confirm it.
Pilibhit police have lodged a case against the beef smugglers based on the registration number of the vehicle. Police officials have stated that they have found clues and soon the smugglers will be arrested too.
Uttar Pradesh has witnessed rampant cattle and beef smuggling in recent times. After the Bulandshahr incident, the Yogi government has instructed the police to take a tough stand against cattle smugglers.
Pilibhit itself has seen many incidents of cattle and cow meat smuggling in recent times. in December, 10 smugglers were caught with 500 kgs of cow meat. There have also been instances of smugglers attacking and firing upon policemen to avoid arrest.
Pilibhit is the constituency of union minister Maneka Gandhi, who is a fierce animal rights activist.
