Police attacked while foiling cow slaughter bid in Palghar; three held

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The police on Tuesday said that a group of people allegedly attacked a police team while it was foiling an attempt to transport cows for slaughter in Maharashtra's Palghar district.

District Superintendent of Police Balasaheb Patil told PTI that the incident occurred at Dharanpada in Jawhar in the wee hours of Monday.

He said a case has been registered against seven persons under sections 307 (attempt to murder), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty) and other relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code and Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, Maharashtra Animal Preservation Act.

According to the official, three accused were arrested, and a search has been launched for the rest.

He said a patrolling team of the police received information that cows were going to be loaded into a truck and taken for cow slaughter from an orchard in the area, reported PTI.

The official said that the team searched the area and found the accused hiding in a hillock.

The accused allegedly pelted stones at the police during a chase, and one of them attempted to attack a cop with a sickle, he said.

The official further said that the team managed to apprehend Soheb Khan Khalil Khan (26) and Sheikh Shabir Sheikh (22), both residents of Malegaon in Nashik, and Sumit Lazarus Kharat (32) of Ahmednagar district, reported PTI.

The accused said they were taking the cows to Malegaon for cow slaughter for Eid al-Adha, he said.

Six cows and five calves were recovered from the accused and sent to a cattle shelter, he said.

(With inputs from PTI)