Police action in Saroorpur follows tip-off; animal rescued
Meerut district police arrested two men late on Saturday after receiving information that several people were preparing to slaughter a cow near the Hindon River bridge. The operation at the Harra-Khiwai crossing, in the jurisdiction of Saroorpur police station, resulted in one of the accused sustaining a gunshot wound to his right leg, police said.
Saroorpur Station Officer Gaurav Singh said the team was checking suspicious persons and vehicles when they were alerted about four people allegedly tying the animal to a tree beside a path leading to Khiwai. The Saroorpur police together with the SWAT team reached the spot, cordoned off the area and tried to apprehend the suspects.
"Police were checking suspicious persons and vehicles at the Harra-Khiwai crossing on Saturday night when they received information that four people were preparing to slaughter a cow," said Gaurav Singh.
According to the police account, one of the accused opened fire at personnel during the attempt to detain them. Officers returned fire in what they described as self-defence, and the suspect identified as Yameen, 35, was hit in the right leg. He was taken to the Saroorpur Community Health Centre for first aid, police said.
Another man, named Pappu, 30, was arrested at the scene. Two others fled into nearby sugarcane fields and a search operation is underway to trace them, the police added.
Evidence seized; prior cases noted against one accused
Police said they recovered a live cow from the spot along with a country-made pistol, one spent shell and one live cartridge. Knives, choppers, ropes, a wooden block, two awls, a piece of black cloth, a plastic bag and a motorcycle were also seized and taken into custody as evidence, officials said.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Arrested | Yameen (35, wounded in right leg) and Pappu (30) |
| At large | Two other suspects who escaped into sugarcane fields |
| Recovered | Live cow, country-made pistol, one spent shell, one live cartridge, knives, choppers, ropes, awls, wooden block, motorcycle |
Police records show that Yameen faces multiple outstanding cases registered at various police stations in neighbouring districts including Ghaziabad, Hapur, Meerut and Gautam Buddh Nagar. The charges, the police said, include alleged robbery, attempt to murder, and violations under the Uttar Pradesh Prevention of Cow Slaughter Act, the Arms Act and the Gangster Act.
- Operation initiated after tip-off; Saroorpur and SWAT teams involved.
- One suspect wounded and hospitalised for first aid; another detained at scene.
- Search continues for two suspects who fled; several weapons and a cow recovered.
Officials said formal legal procedures, including registration of cases and further investigations, are under way. They have not yet released details of FIRs relating specifically to the incident beyond the seizure list and the criminal history reported against one of the arrested men.
The episode comes amid heightened sensitivities in parts of Uttar Pradesh around cattle protection laws and incidents of alleged cow slaughter, which often draw immediate police attention and public interest. Local authorities said they were pursuing the investigation to identify and apprehend the men who escaped and to ascertain the full circumstances that led to the confrontation.
Medical authorities at the Saroorpur Community Health Centre confirmed that the wounded suspect received first aid; police said his condition was stable. The probe will determine whether further force used by either side is subject to departmental or judicial review, officials indicated.
