Cow smuggler held after gunfight on Delhi-Mumbai e-way in Nuh
A suspected cattle smuggler was arrested after a gunfight on the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway. Twelve cattle were rescued and one smuggler managed to escape. The arrested suspect is stable in hospital. A case has been registered against the unidentified driver.
A team from the Nuh police arrested a suspected cattle smuggler on Saturday morning following a chase on the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway that ended in a gunfight.
Cow smuggler held after gunfight on Delhi-Mumbai e-way in Nuh
Twelve cattle, including seven cows, were rescued, police said, adding that one of the alleged smugglers was arrested after being shot in the leg, while his accomplice managed to escape.
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The arrested suspect was identified as Taufiq Khan (45) a resident of Uttawar in Palwal. He has been admitted to Mandikhera hospital and is reported to be stable.
The incident happened near Mahu village in Ferozepur Jhirka of Nuh district around 3am. Police said they received a tip-off that a team of cow vigilantes were chasing two suspected cattle rustlers on the expressway.
Narender Bijarniya, Nuh superintendent of police, said based on specific information, a police team led by Satish Vats, deputy superintendent of police, intercepted the truck on the expressway. “Two cattle smugglers entered Nuh district from Rajasthan in the early hours of Saturday and when a police team started chasing them, they opened fire. The team had a narrow escape twice. When their vehicle was intercepted, they stopped the truck and tried to flee on foot,” he said.
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Bijarniya said police fired in retaliation, and one of the bullets hit one of the suspects in the leg and he fell to the ground. “The suspects attacked our team and attempted to escape. We had to fire several rounds,” he said. .
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Bijarniya said police fired in retaliation, and one of the bullets hit one of the suspects in the leg and he fell to the ground. “The suspects attacked our team and attempted to escape. We had to fire several rounds,” he said. .
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“We recovered seven cows and 14 bulls but one smuggler fled. The matter is being investigated further. They were taken to a cattle shelter for treatment because all of them were injured. We seized the truck and took it to Ferozepur Jhirka police station,” said Vats.
Police said a case was registered against the unidentified driver under sections 279 (rash driving) and 336 (acting rashly or negligently), 307 (attempt to murder), 120 B (conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), sections 25-54 of the Arms Act, Section 13(2) of Haryana Gauvansh Sanrakshan and Gausamvardhan Act, 2015, and Section 11 of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act,1960, said police.
Leena Dhankhar is Senior Editor and Bureau Chief, Gurugram, at Hindustan Times, where she has spent over 17 years chronicling the transformation of one of India's fastest-growing urban regions. From starting her career as a crime reporter to leading the Gurugram bureau, her journalism has been defined by investigative reporting, in-depth storytelling and an unwavering focus on public interest.
Over nearly two decades, she has reported extensively across crime, politics, civic governance, elections, real estate, environment, courts, sports, education and entertainment, covering Gurugram, Faridabad, Nuh and Palwal. Her reporting has exposed several major scams and systemic failures, including insurance frauds, waste management irregularities, illegal arms manufacturing units in Nuh, illegal mining in the Aravallis, organised crime networks and governance lapses affecting millions of residents.
Known for her investigative work and exclusive stories, Leena has reported on high-impact national issues, including the Nicaragua charter flight carrying Indian migrants that was turned back amid allegations of human trafficking, exposing the growing network of illegal immigration rackets. Her work has also focused on gang wars, prison administration, juvenile crime, women and child protection systems, the functioning of the Juvenile Justice Board and Child Welfare Committee, and environmental challenges such as pollution, waterlogging and deteriorating civic infrastructure.
Beyond hard news, Leena has extensively documented Haryana's rich heritage, forests and wildlife, bringing attention to the state's historical landmarks, biodiversity, conservation efforts and ecological challenges through immersive reportage and feature writing.
Her journalism has consistently gone beyond breaking news. She has documented Gurugram's rapid urbanisation through long-form narratives and enterprise reporting on issues ranging from pothole-ridden roads, flooding and waste management to the changing social fabric of India's Millennium City. She also writes widely read feature columns, including The Outsider, Changemaker, and Concern for Gurugram, profiling people, places and ideas shaping the city's identity.
Leena is the author of Gurugram School Murder, published by Juggernaut Books, a deeply reported account of one of India's most high-profile school murder investigations. She is currently working on her second book, an investigative work exploring some of India's most significant scams and fraud investigations.
Beyond print journalism, she has expanded her storytelling through public speaking and digital media. She is a TEDx speaker and has produced podcasts exploring Gurugram's transformation, civic challenges and untold stories. Her work reflects a commitment to narrative journalism that combines rigorous reporting with compelling storytelling.
A law graduate with an MBA in Human Resources, Leena brings a multidisciplinary perspective to her reporting, particularly on governance, public policy and legal affairs. She has travelled extensively across India to pursue investigative assignments, often reporting from remote locations and conflict-prone areas in search of stories that matter.
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