Gurugram, Nov 16 (PTI) A self-styled cow protection team caught three suspected smugglers on Wednesday after a 20-km chase during which they were allegedly fired upon by the smugglers, leaving one member injured and their three vehicles damaged, police said.

They said three to four other suspected smugglers managed to flee after their vehicle was caught near Palwal.

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Police said they have now taken custody of the three suspected smugglers identified as Salim, Mehmood and Saad, and registered an FIR at the Hathin police station on the complaint of the cow protection team.

"We have nabbed the three and an FIR has been registered against them. We will produce them in a city court on Thursday," said inspector Jasveer, SHO of Hathin police station.

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Rajbir Boken, a member of the team who is associated with the Bajrang Dal, said that on late Tuesday night information was received that smugglers were picking up cows.

"After getting this information, I along with Monu Manesar and others started chasing. We reached Bhondsi via Hero Honda Chowk from where the smugglers took their pickup towards Garhi Bazidpur road and started running. We were chasing them while they pelted stones and opened fire on us. But after a chase of about 20 Kms we caught three while others escaped”, said Boken.

Monu Manesar said, "One of our team members, Paramjeet, was injured during the chase while our three vehicles were damaged. We have filed a complaint at Hathin police sation and an FIR has been registered under various sections including attempt to murder."

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)