Three suspects were smuggling cattle from Rajasthan in a pick-up van. When they reached the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway near Mahu-Chopta village their van overturned
A 38-year-old so-called “cow vigilante” was shot at by alleged cattle smugglers on early Saturday morning when he along with six others were chasing their vehicle on the Delhi Mumbai expressway near Ferozepur Jhirka, police officers aware of the matter said, adding that one man has been arrested.
The pick-up van in which the cattle were being smuggled. (HT Photo)
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The suspects, who were allegedly smuggling cattle from Rajasthan, were chased by the vigilantes after receiving a tip-off, they added.
The victim, Sonu Yadav alias Sonu Sarpanch, is a resident of Rewari. He was chasing the pick-up van with his group when the incident took place around 4.45am.
He was taken to a private hospital in Sector 38 where he underwent treatment for his bullet injury and is currently recovering, police said.
Police identified the arrested suspect as Kalu (single name), from Ajmer in Rajasthan. Two others have been identified and raids are being carried out for their arrests, police said.
“One of them suffered a bullet injury in his stomach. The police team chased and arrested one of the suspects after they were informed by one of the vigilantes. We are questioning thim to get details of the others and from where they had stolen the cattle,” said Nuh superintendent of police, Narender Bijarniya.
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Police said when the three suspects reached near Mahu-Chopta village, their van overturned possibly due to speeding and they tried to escape.
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Police said when the three suspects reached near Mahu-Chopta village, their van overturned possibly due to speeding and they tried to escape.
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A case has been registered under sections 13 (2) of the Haryana Gauvansh Sanrakshan and Gausamvardhan Act, 2015, and section 307 (attempt to murder), 279 (rash driving), 336 (act endangering life or personal safety of others) 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code and Section 25 of the Arms Act at Ferozepur Jhirka police station.
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.
