Surat: Police conducted an overnight combing operation at Hathoda village in Mangrol taluka of Surat district on Thursday, after a mob allegedly attacked a group of gau-rakshaks and police personnel who had gone to verify information about suspected cow slaughter.According to police, Kosamba police received intelligence early on Thursday about a cow being slaughtered in a field outside Hathoda village. Six police personnel, accompanied by gau rakshaks (cow protectors), went to the spot and began a search using torches.Police said a few people initially arrived on a motorcycle and argued with the police team, to obstruct the search. They later summoned more people, after which a mob allegedly attacked the cops and the gau rakshak informant. Within minutes, over 50 men, armed with sticks, pipes and stones, descended on the spot and launched an assault.The informant suffered a head injury, while a police jawan was also injured. The police team retreated and alerted senior officers.Superintendent of police Rajesh Gadhia ordered immediate reinforcements. Under the supervision of Surat rural deputy superintendent of police B K Vanaar, teams comprising seven police inspectors and 15 police sub-inspectors carried out a combing operation in the village through the night, to trace those involved and prevent any escalation.Police registered an FIR invoking attempted murder, rioting and obstructing public servants from their duties. Twenty-two persons were arrested.Gadhia said strict action would be taken against those who took the law into their own hands. A team from the Forensic Science Laboratory took samples from the spot where the suspected slaughter had taken place. Police suspect that the accused removed the cow and other materials from the site during the initial obstruction and attack on the police team.
