Sonu Yadav : Cow Vigilante Shot at by Smugglers in Nuh

A 38-year-old man was allegedly shot at by cattle smugglers early Saturday morning in Haryana’s Nuh, police said, adding his condition is said to be critical. The incident took place around 4.45 am.

Police identified the man, a cow vigilante, as Sonu Yadav alias Sonu Sarpanch, a resident of Rewari. He was admitted to a multi-speciality hospital in Gurugram’s Sector 38 and is reported to be in critical condition.

The incident occurred when Sonu and six others were chasing a vehicle suspected of smuggling cattle on the Delhi-Mumbai expressway near Ferozepur Jhirka. They were attacked by the alleged smugglers during the pursuit.

The suspects, who were smuggling cattle from Rajasthan, were being chased by the vigilantes based on a tip-off received by the police. The cow protection task force members tried to intercept the van carrying the smugglers, but the suspects opened fire on them.

Superintendent of Police, Nuh, Narender Bijarniya, stated that Sonu suffered a bullet injury to his stomach during the altercation. The suspects managed to escape, leaving behind the van. One suspect was apprehended by the police and is currently being interrogated to gather more information about their associates and the whereabouts of the stolen cattle.

Kulbhushan Bhardwaj, a member of Bajrang Dal and legal representative for the cow vigilantes, mentioned that Sonu is undergoing surgery and his condition remains critical. He expressed concern over the increasing incidents of cattle smuggling in the district, particularly on the new expressway which provides a safe route for smugglers.

Initial investigations suggest that the suspects are from Rajasthan. A case has been registered under sections 5, 13 (2), and 17 of the Haryana Gauvansh Sanrakshan and Gausamvardhan Act, 2015, as well as section 307 (attempted murder) at Ferozepur Jhirka police station.