Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 28: Patronized by a well-knit trans-border nexus and strong mafia operating in Punjab and J&K, a group of bovine smugglers in an amazing and daring act today attacked police men at a naka, snatched their rifle, left them nearly half- dead on the road near Pansar in Hiranagar tehsil and escaped with bovine animals during early hours today.
Reports said it was around 2.15 am when a police naka party on border road spotted two vehicles from Kot Punnu and Punjab side moving towards Hiranagar and Samba. Three cops on duty signaled the trucks and the occupants came out. They had some altercation with the cops and then they suddenly attacked police men with lathis and other sharp edged weapons. The smugglers were about six to seven in number and after severely beating up the cops and snatching their AK-47 rifle they escaped along with animals.
The cops then contacted Hiranagar Police Station and the injured were then shifted to first Hiranagar hospital and then to Kathua. The doctors provided preliminary treatment and then referred them to GMC Jammu early morning. They were identified as Constable Rashpal Singh and Constable-Mushtaq Ahmed and SPO Dinesh Kumar.
DIG Jammu- Kathua Range J P Singh when contacted said that two bovine smugglers were nabbed during raids by police parties and the snatched weapon (AK-47 rifle) has also been recovered. They were identified as Ghulam Rasool and Lal Hussain, residents of Andhe Chak near border. He claimed that about 6-7 bovine smugglers suddenly attacked the cops on duty at Chak Chhan Lal Din near Pansar during mid night. He said a new pattern of reverse bovine smuggling has recently started and these people were also going towards Punjab with animals.
Replying to a question, the DIG said the cops did not fire for self- protection as attackers did not give enough time for action and suddenly attacked. He said two teams have been sent towards Gurdaspur and Dina Nagar and assistance of Punjab police has also been sought as it has been discovered that some of them escaped towards Punjab. All of them stand identified now and they have been booked for attempt to murder. He said the condition of cops was also said to be stable now.
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