Chandigarh, August 1: A 35-year-old man identified as Gopal was allegedly shot dead on the Hodal-Nuh Highway. Though there are murmurs that the shooting was carried out by a gang of cow smugglers, the police has denied the claims, reported NDTV.

The incident took place on the Hodal-Nuh Highway, said the report. Gopal, who was shot dead, was part of a local gau raksha (cow protection) unit. It is the members of the gau raksha committee who are alleging that Gopal was shot dead by a cow smuggling gang after he tried to go after a vehicle that allegedly had smuggled cows. Kamal Nath Gives Stern Warning to Gau Rakshaks, Says 'Won't Spare Those Involved in Violence in Name of Cow'.

However, Palwal police superintendent, Narendra Bijarniya was quoted saying by NDTV that the investigations in the case is underway but that there is no evidence so far to suggest that the murder was carried out by cattle smugglers.

Gopal’s younger brother Jalvir said in the first information report (FIR) that Gopal was part of a gau raksha team and that he was an active member. Those involved in illegal smuggling of cows targeted Gopal, claimed his brother Jalvir. Gopal was shot and sustained injuries on his private part and he was bleeding profusely, found out Jalvir, when he reached his residence, says the FIR report.

The Haryana government only recently amended the Gauvansh Sanrakshan and Gausamvardhan Act of 2015. The amendment in the act gives the police the right to search vehicles suspected of transporting beef and illegal cattle trade. This is the latest incident suspected to be an outcome of the conflict between the cow smugglers and gau rakshaks in Haryana.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 01, 2019 04:42 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).