Gurugram, Nov 11 (PTI) A cow protection team of the Bajrang Dal was fired at by smugglers near Bhondsi here early Wednesday morning when it was pursuing their speeding pickup truck loaded with cattle, police said.
The smugglers threw the cattle out of their moving vehicle onto the road and managed to escape by taking advantage of the darkness, they said.
Bajrang Dal activists and the police jointly carried out the rescue operation.
Two of the cattle sustained serious injuries after being thrown from the vehicle.
All the rescued animals have been handed over to the Pandala Goshala and the Municipal Corporation team for immediate treatment and care, police added.
Bajrang Dal leader Chaman Khatana said his team received a tip-off about cattle being illegally transported in Bhondsi area and began pursuing the suspicious vehicle.
Upon noticing the cow protectors following them, the smugglers accelerated, leading to a high-speed chase that continued for a considerable distance along the road, he said.
“When the smugglers realised that the Bajrang Dal team had come very close to their vehicle and that they were about to be caught, they suddenly opened direct fire on them from the windows of their vehicles near Chandrashekhar farm, but they narrowly escaped.
“They began repeatedly throwing cattle onto the road but our team chased them continuously. Facing mounting pressure, the smugglers opened fire and fled from the main road toward rural routes,” Khatan said.
A police officer said empty bullet shells were found at the spot.
Footage from nearby CCTV cameras is being examined to identify the smugglers and obtain the registration number of the pickup vehicle used, the officer said, adding an FIR will be registered soon. PTI COR ZMN
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