Cattle Smuggler Injured in Dramatic Police Encounter in Deoria

Deoria (UP), Nov 12 (PTI) - In a dramatic encounter, a notorious cattle smuggler, Dilip Sonkar, was injured during a confrontation with police in Deoria district. The altercation occurred after Sonkar reportedly snatched a pistol from an officer and opened fire while trying to escape custody, officials confirmed on Wednesday.

Police stated that Sonkar, a resident of Parsia Karkatahi, was apprehended on Tuesday night as part of a targeted anti-crime initiative. During the operation, officers from the Bankata police station stopped a pickup truck transporting cattle and arrested Sonkar. A country-made pistol and two live cartridges were allegedly recovered from him.

The plot thickened when, en route to a medical examination—following Sonkar's complaints of stomach pain—the accused reportedly tricked the police escort near Das Narahiya turn by requesting to relieve himself. Upon exiting the vehicle, Sonkar allegedly grabbed a sub-inspector's pistol and fired at the police team, attempting an escape.

"The officers, acting in self-defense, returned fire, resulting in the accused being shot in the leg and subsequently re-arrested," said Circle Officer (CO) Sanjay Kumar Reddy. Sonkar was subsequently admitted to a hospital where he remains under police surveillance.

Authorities revealed that Sonkar is a repeat offender, with eight criminal charges against him. "After his arrest, he attempted to flee and fired at the police team. In response, the police were compelled to protect themselves," Reddy added.