Cow vigilantes thrash UP cattle smugglers in Siwan

PATNA: Four persons suspected to be cattle smugglers from Uttar Pradesh were brutally assaulted by an unruly mob led by some cow vigilantes in Siwan district on Saturday evening. Two of the seriously injured have been referred to the Patna Medical College and Hospital in serious condition.
The incident took place around 7pm when a truck carrying over 30 cattle, including cows and oxen, was on its way to Kishanganj from Kaushambi in UP.A group of residents intercepted the truck near Mairwa Dham under the Mairwa police station in Siwan and thrashed truck driver Mohammed Aslam and three other occupants identified as Mohammad Sarwar, Moinul Haq and Vaiyalay. The attackers were so aggressive that they didn’t spare the police and sub-inspector Pramod Kumar suffered minor injuries.
Mairwa SHO Vinod Kumar Singh said on Sunday that Sarwar and Aslam had been referred to the PMCH as their condition was stated to be critical, while Haq and Vaiyalay were undergoing treatment at Siwan Sadar hospital.
The four alleged cattle smugglers were being escorted by some people travelling in a SUV from Kaushambi. They, however, fled the spot. “A case has been registered against the four under relevant sections of Prevention of Cruelty to Animal Act 1960,” the SHO said.
Another FIR was also lodged regard the attack on the police team by unruly mob. “The truck has been seized,” the SHO said, adding that a few cows were set free by the local residents.
The cattle smugglers said the truck was booked for Kishanganj in Bihar from Daulatpur in Kaushambi district. They alleged that the attackers also took away their cash and other belongings. The SHO said efforts were to identify the people who thrashed the cattle smugglers. “If the locals had spotted the vehicle being used to transport the cattle, they should have informed the police,” he said.
The village chowkidar told senior police officers that the attackers were cow vigilantes and absconding after the incident.