Suspected cow smugglers, NSG sentry exchange fire on campus

High drama ensued at the National Security Guards (NSG) centre in Manesar near Gurugram on Monday as a group of suspected cattle smugglers, which was being chased by gau rakshaks (cow protectors), made its way into the sensitive and secured campus, police sources said.

When the sentry in the campus sensed the intrusion, he fired in air to warn the trespassers, and one of the smugglers fired back. "An exchange of bullets took place between the intruders and the sentry. Afterwards, the accused fled, leaving behind a vehicle with a cow in it," the police said.

After receiving a complaint from the NSG, the police have registered a case of attempt to murder under Section 307 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Haryana State Cow Protection Act, and Arms Act against the accused.

NSG is an elite anti-terror unit that specialises in hijack and hostage operations. The force, comprising commandos from the Army and paramilitary forces, played a pivotal role during the Mumbai 26\11 attacks. The commandos train in strategies to combat terror attack like situations at the Manesar Centre.

Police suspect that four people were involved in the incident. They allegedly jumped over the perimeter wall of the high security zone Monday around 9pm.

According to the police, a vehicle carrying a cow was stopped by a vigilante group near the Kherki Daula toll plaza on National Highway 8. "They were spotted at the toll plaza and chased for nearly 10 km by the group, before they reached NSG campus," the police added. The speeding vehicle went out of control and rammed into the wall of NSG campus in Manesar.

The police are on a lookout for the suspected to smugglers.