A young man, Gopal, who was a member of a Gaurakshak Dal (cow protection group) was shot dead by cattle smugglers in Palwal, Haryana, reports Dainik Jagran

The shooting occurred around 7.30 PM on Monday. Gopal, a resident of Sondahad village, had earlier managed to rescue several cows from the clutches of cattle smugglers. This time too he got information about smugglers being active in the area, and when he reached the spot he was fired upon leading to his death.

His body was taken to a hospital in Palwal, and heavy police force stationed there due to the ensuing tension. Police is trying to apprehend those responsible.

The Jagran report further adds that in April 2016, a police constable – Raj Singh – was brutally murdered in the same area by cattle smugglers trying to evade a police checkpost. The criminals had backed up their pick-up truck after knocking the policeman down, to crush him under their wheels the second time round.

Palwal falls in the Delhi-NCR region and is adjacent to Nuh (Mewat) district of Haryana which is considered the hub of the illegal cattle trade in North-West Bharat.

Death of cattle smugglers like Rakbar Khan, Umar Khan, Pehlu Khan etc has received widespread sympathetic coverage in mainstream media, resulting in generous State compensation for their families (including from the BJP Government of Haryana). But ordinary villagers like Gopal, who provide community policing support to tackle this dangerous mafia which routinely terrorizes villages and towns in the region, are painted as villains & ‘saffron terrorists’ and their families are left to fend for themselves.

Did you find this article useful? We’re a non-profit. Make a donation and help pay for our journalism.