Cow vigilante shot at by cattle smugglers on Delhi-Mumbai E-way, dies

The shooting occurred around 4.45am on June 15 on the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway near Ferozepur Jhirka, where seven people were chasing the smugglers’ vehicle based on a tip-off. The suspects were reportedly smuggling cattle from Rajasthan

Updated on: Aug 6, 2024, 06:28:05 IST

By Leena Dhankhar

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

A 38-year-old cow vigilante succumbed to his injuries in a private hospital in Sector 38 on Sunday night after being shot multiple times by cattle smugglers on June 15, said police. The deceased, identified as Sonu Yadav alias Sonu Sarpanch from Rewari, had been undergoing treatment since the incident, they added.

Besides IPC sections, a case was registered under the Arms Act as well. (Representative photo)

According to police, the shooting occurred around 4.45am on June 15 on the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway near Ferozepur Jhirka, where Yadav and six others were chasing the smugglers’ vehicle based on a tip-off. The suspects were reportedly smuggling cattle from Rajasthan.

Kulbhushan Bhardwaj, a member of Bajrang Dal and counsel for the vigilantes claimed that Yadav had excessive bleeding from the gunshot injury and remained unstable throughout his hospitalisation. Yadav had collapsed on July 5 before passing away, an officer aware of the case said, adding that the exact cause of death will be clear post-autopsy.

Cow vigilantes are now demanding ₹1 crore in compensation, a government job for Yadav’s wife, and martyr status for Yadav. Bhardwaj highlighted the increase in cattle smuggling incidents in recent years and the dangers faced by those trying to stop it.

“This is very unfortunate that the man who tried to save cows was shot and died after battling for nearly 50 days. He was the youngest in his family and financially supported his family as the sole breadwinner,” Bhardwaj said. He also referenced the 2013 case of Vikrant Yadav, a 24-year-old cow vigilante killed by cattle smugglers. Bhardwaj further claimed that Yadav’s family did not receive any government support and remains dependent on relatives.

The cow vigilantes have threatened to protest outside the deputy commissioner’s office and organise a rally if their demands are not met.

A case was registered under sections 13 (2) of the Haryana Gauvansh Sanrakshan and Gausamvardhan Act, 2015, and sections 307 (attempt to murder), 279 (rash driving), 336 (act endangering life or personal safety of others), and 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code, as well as Section 25 of the Arms Act at Ferozepur Jhirka police station. Police have arrested two suspects in connection with the case.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Leena Dhankhar
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.Read More