Bareilly cow slaughter case: 2 arrested after encounter, illegal firearm seized
Synopsis
Bareilly police tracked an alleged absconder into a forest, exchanged fire, and walked away with two arrests, 40 kg of bovine meat, and an illegal firearm — the latest in a string of cow slaughter crackdowns across Uttar Pradesh that have now drawn in SOG units, the Gangster Act, and armed encounters in multiple districts.
Key Takeaways
Two accused arrested in a cow slaughter case in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh on 17 July 2026 .
Accused Aqiluddin alias Gattu was apprehended after a police encounter; sustained a bullet injury to his leg .
A police constable was also injured.
Police recovered approximately 40 kg of bovine meat , slaughter equipment, and an illegal firearm from the accused.
A separate June 2026 encounter in Shahjahanpur led to the arrest of two wanted criminals — each carrying a ₹10,000 reward — booked under the Gangster Act .
Investigations are ongoing; police are pursuing additional suspects linked to both incidents.
Bareilly district police in Uttar Pradesh arrested two accused in a cow slaughter case on 17 July 2026, including one alleged absconder who was apprehended after a police encounter in a nearby forest. An illegal firearm, bovine meat, and slaughter equipment were recovered during the operation, according to officials.
How the Arrests Unfolded
According to the Police Media Cell, Mohammad Khan, son of Nabu Khan, was arrested in connection with a cow slaughter case registered in the Izzatnagar area. A second accused, Aqiluddin alias Gattu — described as an absconder — was nabbed following a police encounter in a forest near the village.
During the encounter, Aqiluddin sustained a bullet injury to his leg. A police constable was also injured in the exchange of fire, officials confirmed.
What Was Recovered
Police recovered approximately 40 kg of bovine meat, an electronic weighing scale, cow slaughter equipment, and an illegal firearm from the accused. Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Shivam Ashutosh shared details of the operation, stating: 'On July 16, 2026, Izzatnagar Police received information that a cow slaughter incident had taken place at the house of Aqiluddin, a resident of Gram Mahlaun. As soon as the information was received, the police team conducted a raid at the spot and found Mohammad Khan, son of Nabu Khan, at Aqiluddin's house. Around 40 kg of bovine meat, an electronic weighing scale, and equipment used for cow slaughter were recovered from his possession…'
Broader Crackdown in Uttar Pradesh
The Bareilly arrests are part of a broader pattern of intensified police action against those allegedly involved in cow slaughter cases across Uttar Pradesh. This comes amid a sustained enforcement drive that has seen multiple operations in recent weeks.
In a separate incident in June 2026, two wanted criminals accused in cow slaughter cases — each carrying a cash reward of ₹10,000 — were arrested following a police encounter in Shahjahanpur district. That operation was a joint effort by the Special Operations Group (SOG), the Surveillance Cell, and Kant Police. Illegal country-made pistols, cartridges, and a mobile phone were recovered from them.
Shahjahanpur Encounter: Key Details
According to Additional Superintendent of Police (City), Shahjahanpur, Devendra Kumar, police received information late on a Tuesday night that two wanted criminals — booked under the Gangster Act — were present near Jindon Wali Puliya on the Madnapur-Kant road and were allegedly preparing for cow slaughter. When the joint police team reached the spot, some suspects attempted to flee and two accused allegedly opened fire on officers.
In retaliatory firing, accused Mohammad Shakir sustained bullet injuries to both legs. His accomplice Dharmveer was arrested after being surrounded by police. Both are residents of Bareilly district.
Investigation Continues
Police said further action is underway in the Bareilly case, with efforts to identify and apprehend additional suspects linked to the incident. The repeated recovery of illegal firearms alongside slaughter equipment has drawn attention to the organised nature of the alleged operations.
Point of View
Yet official statements have so far focused on individual arrests rather than structural links. The invocation of the Gangster Act in the Shahjahanpur case is notable: it enables property attachment and tougher bail conditions, suggesting authorities are treating at least some of these as organised crime matters. Whether the encounters meet procedural standards will likely face scrutiny, given that two separate incidents within a month both resulted in suspects being shot in the legs.
NationPress
17 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who were the two people arrested in the Bareilly cow slaughter case?
The two accused arrested are Mohammad Khan , son of Nabu Khan, who was held during a raid at a house in the Izzatnagar area, and Aqiluddin alias Gattu , an alleged absconder who was apprehended after a police encounter in a nearby forest on 16–17 July 2026 .
What did Bareilly police recover from the accused?
Police recovered approximately 40 kg of bovine meat , an electronic weighing scale, cow slaughter equipment, and an illegal firearm from the accused, according to ASP Shivam Ashutosh.
Was anyone injured in the Bareilly police encounter?
Yes. Accused Aqiluddin alias Gattu sustained a bullet injury to his leg during the encounter. A police constable was also injured in the operation, officials confirmed.
How does this connect to earlier cow slaughter cases in Uttar Pradesh?
In June 2026 , a joint operation by the SOG, Surveillance Cell, and Kant Police in Shahjahanpur district led to the arrest of two wanted criminals — booked under the Gangster Act and carrying a ₹10,000 reward each — in a similar cow slaughter-linked encounter. Both accused in that case were also residents of Bareilly district.
What is the current status of the Bareilly cow slaughter investigation?
Police say the investigation is ongoing. Efforts are underway to identify and apprehend additional suspects believed to be linked to the incident, according to officials.
