Ballia: Six held for smuggling cattle

SIX PERSONS, all Hindus, were arrested after they were caught smuggling cattle in Ballia’s Ubhaon area on Monday. They were produced before a court, which sent them to judicial custody.

Police claimed to have recovered 52 cows and calves from two trucks seized from the accused. Ubhaon Station Officer Nanhe Ram Saroj said: “Acting on a tip-off, we laid a trap and caught the two trucks in Sikandarpur. While six were arrested, another six managed to escape. During interrogation, the accused said they had brought the cows from Faizabad and were on way to Bihar.” Ballia Circle Officer R K Mishra said, “It appears that the accused were carrying the animals to Bihar for slaughter. The arrested persons, who are residents of Ballia, belong to the Hindu community.”