India, July 7 -- A man linked to several cases of animal cruelty and smuggling in Haryana was arrested after a gunfight with a police team in Huda Sector 2 in Palwal, Haryana. Four of his accomplices managed to escape and are on the run, police said. The suspects' vehicle was not carrying animals at the time of the encounter, police said.

The accused was identified as Mohammad Sakir, a resident of Gwaraka village in Nuh. He is involved in a dozen cases registered across Nuh, Gurugram, and Rewari, involving cow slaughter, cruelty to animals, and theft. His family is also linked to cow smuggling, with over 20 cases registered against his father, Khushiya,and brother, Azad, who is on the run, police said.

"We received a tip-off about the m...