Varanasi: The Special Task Force (STF) of Uttar Pradesh Police has arrested two interstate cow smugglers who were carrying a reward of ₹50,000 each on their heads. The accused were apprehended near the Aurai Lala Nagar Toll Plaza on the Varanasi–Prayagraj road in Varanasi at around 1:20 am on March 8.
The arrested accused have been identified as Padma, son of Sher Khan, a resident of Mirpur village under Khurja Dehat police station in Bulandshahr district, and Sajjad, son of Akhtar, a resident of Mohalla Darbar under Kairana police station in Shamli district. Both were wanted in a case registered at Chandauli police station in Chandauli and had been declared absconders with a reward of ₹50,000 each under the Uttar Pradesh Gangsters Act.
According to officials, the STF had directed its field units to intensify intelligence gathering and action against absconding criminals with rewards on their heads. Acting on these instructions, an STF team from the Meerut field unit, working under the supervision of Additional Superintendent of Police Brijesh Kumar Singh and led by Sub-Inspector Jayveer Singh, was conducting surveillance and collecting criminal intelligence in Varanasi.
During the operation, the team received information that the two wanted accused were present near the Aurai Lala Nagar Toll Plaza on the Varanasi–Prayagraj road. Acting swiftly on the tip-off, the STF team reached the location and successfully arrested both suspects.
During interrogation, the accused revealed that they had been involved in cattle smuggling for several years. Padma stated that he had earlier started working in the cattle slaughter business with a relative of a person named Shamshad from Sambhal around 2017, through whom he was introduced to the illegal trade. Sajjad also worked with the same network and came into contact with Padma there. Later, the two began operating together along with other associates.
The accused admitted that since 2017 they had been purchasing cattle from markets and transporting them illegally for slaughter. The smuggling operations reportedly extended across several states, including Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
Police records show that Padma had earlier been arrested in 2017 in a cow slaughter case registered at Rohania police station in Varanasi under relevant sections of the Cow Slaughter Act. After securing bail, he and his associates resumed illegal activities, including cattle smuggling and liquor trafficking. In 2022, both Padma and Sajjad were again arrested in a cattle smuggling case registered at Chandauli police station under sections of the Cow Slaughter Act, Excise Act, and Arms Act.
Subsequently, in 2023, a case under Section 3(1) of the Uttar Pradesh Gangsters Act was registered against them at Chandauli police station, after which both went absconding and rewards of ₹50,000 each were announced for their arrest.
Following their arrest, the STF handed over the accused to the Chandauli police station for further legal proceedings. Local police have initiated the next phase of legal action in the case.
Officials said the arrests are part of the ongoing crackdown by the Uttar Pradesh Police against organized crime networks and interstate smuggling operations.
