Bulandshahr (Uttar Pradesh) [India], July 5 : An alleged cattle theft accused was injured in a police encounter in Uttar Pradesh's Bulandshahr district after a group of suspects allegedly opened fire on a police team during an attempt to arrest them, officials said.
Five other accused were arrested, while one person managed to escape, and a search operation is underway, police said.
An illegal .315 bore pistol, one live cartridge, one spent shell, a pickup truck, and two buffaloes have been recovered from their possession.
Deepak Tiwari, Sikandrabad Circle Officer, stated that police responded to specific information regarding a group of cattle thieves attempting to load a buffalo into a vehicle near the cattle market on Saturday.
"On July 4, police received a tip-off that some cattle thieves were attempting to load a buffalo into a vehicle near the cattle market. Acting on this information, the police rushed to the scene. Upon spotting the police, the individuals present opened fire. In the ensuing retaliatory action, one person sustained a gunshot wound to his left leg," he said.
He added that five people were taken into custody while one accused managed to flee from the spot. "Additionally, five individuals were arrested, while one person managed to escape. A search for him is underway. Preliminary interrogation revealed that these individuals are habitual offenders," he said.
He added that "recoveries from the arrested individuals include an illegal .315 bore pistol, one live cartridge, one spent shell, a pickup truck, and two buffalos."
In a separate incident in Mathura district, police arrested a man accused in a shooting case after a brief encounter during which he allegedly fired at a police team.
According to officials, the accused was wanted in connection with a July 2 incident in Khamni village where a man was shot and injured. Multiple raids were conducted before police traced him.
Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) and Circle Officer, Mathura, Praveen Kumar Tiwari said the accused, identified as Sandeep, had attacked a man in the village earlier this week.
The officer said the accused opened fire when police attempted to arrest him, following which he was injured in retaliatory firing and taken into custody.
Police recovered an illegal firearm along with live and spent cartridges from his possession.