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AGRA: Four persons, including an interstate cattle smuggler carrying a cash reward of Rs 25,000, were arrested after an exchange of fire with the police on early Wednesday.

Talking to TOI, Mathura SSP Shalabh Mathur said a Santro car without number plate was intercepted by a police team during vehicle checking in Kosikala area. Two men, who were travelling on a motorcycle along the car, opened fire at the team and tried to escape.

During retaliatory firing by the police, one of the accused, Robin, who was driving the motorcycle, got injured while his associate Mohammad Tareef, who hails from Palwal, ran away taking advantage of the darkness, said the SSP.

The police also caught the car’s occupants—Shahzad, Aneesh and Junaid. The cops found a calf, a country-made pistol and two knives from them. All of them hail from various districts of Haryana. The three have been booked under sections 147 (punishment for rioting, 148 (rioting, armed with deadly weapon), 149 (unlawful assembly), 307 (attempt to murder, 358 (assault or criminal force on grave provocation), of the Indian Penal Code and under various sections of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.

Giving details of Robin’s past crimes, the SSP said the cattle smuggler is wanted under section 3/5/8 UP Prevention of Cow Slaughtering Act and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Around 17 criminal cases, including 8 at various police stations in Haryana, are registered against him. Apart from that, Robin is also booked for attempt to murder and under Arms Act at various police stations of Mathura too.

SSP Shalabh Mathur said a manhunt has been launched to nab Mohammad Tareef.

“He will be arrested soon,” Mathur added.

