30 people arrested after scuffle between two groups over suspected cattle smuggling

Patna (Bihar) [India]September 7 (ANI): Around 30 people were arrested after a clash broke out between two groups in Patna's Phulwari Sharif over the suspicion that cattle, which were already under police protection, were being illegally transported.

The incident occurred on September 4th.

District Magistrate Patna Chandrashekhar Singh said that strict action would be taken if the public punished the suspected cattle smugglers.

The district magistrate said, “Yesterday, cattle were brought to a gaushala without informing the police and this led to an altercation between some persons. Police reached the spot and arrested around 30 persons from both groups. If any persons receive such information, they should inform us and not try to act on their own. We will take action.” Earlier, police had arrested two persons on charges of illegal cattle smuggling.

He further said, “We have received information that it was an incident on September 4. Around 38 cattle were being transported in a truck, some people stopped the truck and informed the police. A complaint was filed. Of the accused, two namely Salim and Jitendra were caught, the rest escaped.” The complaint from Phulwari Sharif police station said that on the afternoon of September 6, an information was received in case No. 1314/24 dated September 4, Section 11 of the Animal Cruelty Act 1960, that a dispute had broken out between two parties at Sangat village regarding already seized cattle.

Assistant Inspector and Deputy SHO Diwakar Prasad said, “Fights broke out between the two groups. One group wanted to hold back the seized cattle, but the other insisted on taking the cattle out of the village. All the policemen present repeatedly spoke about the need to maintain peace, but no one listened to the policemen and started pelting stones at the policemen. Two to three policemen were injured.” He further said that the police arrested 30 people whom they detained from the spot. (ANI)