Cattle smugglers nabbed after brief encounter

Ghaziabad: Two alleged cattle smugglers were nabbed and a country-made pistol with a live cartridge and a knife were seized from their possession after a brief encounter, police said today.

The incident occurred yesterday evening when Modi Nagar police, on a specific tip-off, intercepted a truck carrying 14 bulls and two oxen near Kadrabad check post on Delhi-Meerut road, they said.

Following a brief encounter, two persons hailing from Meerut, Nasir and Shahnawaj were arrested, and a .315 bore country-made pistol, a live cartridge and a knife were seized, SHO Modinagar Brijesh Sharma said.

Both the accused have been booked under section 307 IPC, section 25 of Arms Act and various sections of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and have been sent to jail, he said, adding that the truck used for ferrying animals has been impounded.