Varanasi, Feb. 15 -- Three alleged cattle smugglers were arrested following a police encounter near the Aharigaon canal culvert under Maharajganj police station limits in Azamgarh in the early hours of Saturday. Two of the accused sustained bullet injuries during the exchange of fire, police said. According to police, two country-made pistols (.315 bore), two live cartridges, two empty cartridges, an axe (chapar), two knives, four Android mobile phones and a motorcycle were recovered from their possession. The accused were identified as Anil Nona, 21, injured in the left leg; Abu Zaid, 23, who sustained a bullet injury in the right leg; and Abdullah, 19, all residents of different areas of Azamgarh district. Additional superintendent of police (rural) Chirag Jain said police received information that three cattle smugglers were roaming near the Aharigaon canal culvert with plans to commit a crime. Acting on the tip-off, inspector-in-charge of Maharajganj police station, Kedarnath Maurya, along with his team, laid a siege in the area. "On seeing themselves surrounded, the accused opened fire at the police party with intent to kill. The police warned them to surrender, but they attempted to fire again. In retaliatory action taken in self-defence, two of the accused were shot in the leg, while the third was apprehended on the spot," Jain said. The injured were taken to the district hospital in Azamgarh for treatment. The crime scene was secured, and a field unit collected evidence, the officer added. During interrogation, the accused allegedly confessed to luring stray cattle to isolated locations at night, slaughtering them and selling the meat at high prices. Police claimed the accused disposed of remains in rivers, drains or buried them to destroy evidence. In some cases, they allegedly transported slaughtered cattle to other locations for illegal sale. A case has been registered against the three under Sections 109(1), 351(3) and 352 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Sections 3/4/25 of the Arms Act at Maharajganj police station. Police said five criminal cases are already registered against injured accused Anil Nona at different police stations. Further investigation is underway....