Police in Haryana have arrested five men accused of running a cattle trafficking and slaughter racket after the discovery of over 20 cattle carcasses in the Western Yamuna Canal triggered anger among locals. The main accused, identified as Nakim from Panipat, was arrested late Monday night in Indri after he allegedly opened fire on a police team attempting to intercept him.
According to police officials, Nakim and an accomplice were collecting cattle when they were asked to surrender. “Instead of complying, the accused fired at the police. The bullet hit a police vehicle, but fortunately, no one was injured,” an officer said. Nakim was taken into custody, while his associate managed to escape and is currently being traced.
Four Others Already in Custody
Earlier, four other accused had been arrested in connection with the case. They have been identified as Chand Bagri from Kurukshetra and three brothers, Azam, Nawab and Shehzad, from Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh. Police said that the group was operating together as part of an organised network involved in cattle theft and illegal slaughter.
Officials said the accused were allegedly responsible for dumping cattle heads and body parts into the canal to dispose of evidence. “The investigation suggests that the group picked up stray cattle or animals from nearby markets, slaughtered them, and then dumped the remains in the canal to avoid detection,” a police officer involved in the probe said.
Canal Discoveries Triggered Protests
The case came to light between March 17 and 21, when more than 20 cattle heads and body parts were found floating in the Western Yamuna Canal and nearby areas. The discoveries led to widespread outrage among residents and cow protection groups, who staged protests and demanded immediate arrests.
A panchayat meeting was also held in Indri, where locals expressed anger over the incident and gave authorities a deadline to take action. The protests added pressure on the police to speed up the investigation.
Case Registered, Probe Continues
Police have registered a case under the Haryana Gauvansh Sanrakshan and Gausamvardhan Act, 2015, along with relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Senior officers, along with forensic teams, have visited the site as part of the investigation.
Authorities said efforts are ongoing to track down the absconding accused and gather further evidence. “We are continuing our investigation and will ensure that all those involved are brought to justice,” a police official said.
The incident has raised concerns over illegal cattle trade and law enforcement in the region, with residents calling for stricter monitoring to prevent such activities in the future.
