In an attempt to run away from police, four cow smugglers entered the National Security Guards compound in Manesar, Haryana after breaking through two police check points (at Tauru in Mewat and Kherki Daula) in Gurgaon. This happened in the month of February 2017. How many of us have heard this news? How this news has missed the prime time debates on news channels is very surprising since the unfortunate incident of Alwar, where a dairy farmer Pehlu Khan was mistakenly killed by an angry mob, has been discussed in detail on various news channels. Journalists have rightly and individually picked up the cause of a man killed for mistaken identity, but it is worrying to note that a shocking event where NSG Commandos were fired at by well-armed cow smugglers didn’t find even result in a single debate on prime time TV.

Quoting this news report,

‘According to the police, they received a tip-off that a group of cow smugglers were on their way to Delhi-Gurgaon expressway via Tauru road. The police set up check posts at Tauru road and Kherki Daula. However, the four men in the mini truck broke the barricades around 8 pm when the police officials signalled them to stop.

“The police teams were chasing them when they took a turn to escape arrest towards the fields and their vehicle got stuck. They fled leaving the vehicle. They rushed towards the NSG compound wall but we had intimated the officials about the incident,” said DCP (South) Ashok Bakshi.

The NSG had alerted its commandos and before the four accused could hide and take shelter, the security personnel opened fire at them. The cow smugglers also retaliated and fired a round but managed to escape taking advantage of the darkness.

NSG headquarters is a highly guarded installation as hundreds of commandos are trained here.

The police have impounded the mini truck and preliminary investigation revealed that it belonged to a Mewat resident. Two cases have been registered by police one at Kherki Daula and another at Manesar police station for breaking police check points, and illegal entry into NSG premises, and firing at NSG commandos.’

It seems that the Gurgaon Police Commissioner visited the NSG camp premises in Manesar next day to see the exact spot from where cow smugglers had entered. Quoting this news report :

‘The team accompanying police chief Sandeep Khirwar also searched for physical evidence of forced entry and retaliatory firing by the group of armed miscreants. Three police teams consisting of five personnel each have been formed by the commissioner on Wednesday to investigate the case. A team of forensic experts accompanied Khirwar during the spot visit. The team spent more than two hours and visited all routes and areas to ensure all evidences were collected from the spot.

Earlier, police had impounded the mini truck and preliminary investigation revealed that it belonged to Sahun of Ghasera in Mewat.

“We are conducting raids at all possible locations and the family members of Sahun are also cooperating with us. He has not reached home since the firing incident,” inspector Jagdish Prasad, station house officer, Manesar, said.

Police said the accused have been identified and are all history sheeters. They have been involved in cow smuggling earlier too and are wanted in a dozen other cases, police said.’

Mewat (Nuh) seems to be the epicenter of cow smuggling cases in Haryana. Mewat is a Muslim dominated district ( 80% Muslims) and very close to Alwar in Rajasthan. The cattle smugglers are often armed with pistols and other firearms and they aren’t hesitant is even firing back at police. This is a very worrying trend which is leading  to angry gau rakshaks personally involving themselves into saving cows & bulls since the entire political system seems reactive toward the issue, instead of being proactive. Smuggling of animals (specially cows) not only leads to hurting the religious sentiments of majority community in Bharat but also generates black money and is a threat to our national security. A strong political and judicial will is required to control the levels of cow smuggling in the country.

(Featured Image Courtesy : Hindustan Times)

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