Tension gripped Gautam Buddh Nagar’s Rabupura on April 8 as a high-stakes police chase culminated in a shootout, injuring a Haryana-based cattle rustler with a 25,000-rupee bounty. The episode began during a vehicle inspection drive near Cargo T-point on April 7 evening.
Spotting a rider on a suspicious bike, officers signaled him to halt. Instead, he accelerated, weaving through narrow lanes in a desperate bid to escape. The chase led to a confrontation where the fugitive drew his weapon and fired at the police vehicle, prompting retaliatory shots that felled him.
The wounded man was identified as 32-year-old Sanju from Palwal, Haryana. Medical teams stabilized him before deeper questioning. Recovered items included a prohibited .315 bore tamancha, a jammed empty cartridge, a live cartridge, and a numberless stolen motorcycle—clear signs of his illicit operations.
Sanju’s criminal dossier is alarming: wanted in several Rabupura cases this year under stringent laws against cow slaughter and arms violations. His trail spans Haryana, with prior arrests pending in Palwal and Faridabad for smuggling livestock and mistreating animals. Police sources indicate he was a key player in cross-border smuggling rings.
This encounter underscores the relentless efforts of Uttar Pradesh police to safeguard cattle and enforce law amid rising smuggling threats. Community leaders praised the bravery of the officers, urging sustained vigilance. Further probes aim to uncover accomplices and seized assets.
