Five cow smugglers arrested in Muzaffarnagar after shootout
Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh, India 
9 November, 2024
Case Summary
On November 10, a shootout occurred on Muzaffarnagar’s Kukda Road when UP police intercepted a gang involved in cow smuggling. One gang member, Sandeep, was injured and hospitalised, while four others, Lokesh Kumar, Kailash, Upesh Singh, and Deen Mohammad, were arrested. Two suspects, including the gang leader Chand, remain at large. The police seized three live cows, a Max pickup truck, a motorcycle, and cartridges during the operation. The gang reportedly stole stray animals at night and sold them for illegal slaughter in areas like Haridwar. Lokesh Kumar, one of the accused, is a former district vice president of Chandrashekhar Azad’s Azad Samaj Party. A case under multiple sections, including 109 of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) and the Cow Slaughter Act, was registered. The arrested individuals were jailed, and efforts to apprehend the remaining suspects are ongoing.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
The cow is considered sacred in the Hindu religion. Often, cows are slaughtered by non-Hindu perpetrators as a mark of insult to the Hindu faith. There have been several documented cases throughout history where cow slaughter is used as a method to insult the Hindu faith, convert Hindus (by force-feeding beef) and desecrate temples. In all cases of cow slaughter, there is a suspicion of religious animosity against Hindus working as a motivating factor, however, in the absence of any concrete indication, this case is being categorized as 'undecided'. If more details emerge, it would be added to the hate crime database.
Case Status
Arrested
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Others
Perpetrators Range
From 5 to 10
Perpetrators Gender
male
Sources 
