Prayagraj: Police Nab Afzal, Key Muzaffar Gang Member Wanted in Multiple Cattle Smuggling Cases
In a big breakthrough against organized crime, a joint team of Soraon police station and the Special Operations Group (SOG) arrested Afzal, a notorious operative of the Muzaffar gang, late on Sunday night.
The arrest took place near the Tulapur underpass by Chapar on the busy Varanasi–Kanpur highway, ending Afzal’s months-long run from the law.
Afzal, a native of Karedham in Kaushambi district, had been on the police radar for several months due to his involvement in large-scale cattle smuggling.
A cash reward of ₹25,000 had been announced for him for information leading to his capture, reflecting the seriousness of his crimes.
Afzal’s Criminal Record and Arrest
According to ADC-P Ganganagar Pushkar Verma, Afzal was deeply entrenched in the Muzaffar gang’s operations, conspiring with other members to purchase and illegally transport bovine animals across districts such as Prayagraj, Fatehpur, and Kaushambi.
His name prominently surfaced in connection with an incident on 20 March in Servait, under Soraon police jurisdiction. In that case, police intercepted a cattle-smuggling operation and arrested five members of the Muzaffar gang, but Afzal had managed to escape, tightening his reputation as a slippery and resourceful criminal.
On Sunday night, acting on a tip-off, authorities learned that Afzal was waiting near the Tulapur underpass. Police swiftly surrounded the area, ensuring no escape route, and succeeded in apprehending him. During the operation, officers recovered a chapad (a sharp-edged weapon) from his possession.
In subsequent interrogation, Afzal confessed to being an active member of the Muzaffar gang (Case No. IR-05/2022) and admitted his role in several smuggling operations.
Police records confirm that he faces at least eight criminal cases in Prayagraj and Kaushambi districts, ranging from cattle slaughter and cruelty to animals to serious charges under the Gangster Act.
The Muzaffar Gang: A Background
The Muzaffar gang has built a notorious reputation in Uttar Pradesh, especially across Prayagraj, Kaushambi, and surrounding regions.
The gang is primarily engaged in illegal cattle trade and smuggling, exploiting porous rural networks and highways for transporting animals. Members often use intimidation and violence to protect their trade, and several are armed with traditional weapons such as rods, knives, and chapads.
Over the years, the Muzaffar gang has developed a structured network, with operatives like Afzal coordinating transportation while others handle purchase and distribution.
Their operations have frequently brought them into conflict with law enforcement and locals, with multiple cases registered under cattle protection laws, cruelty to animals, and organized crime statutes.
The gang’s continued involvement in smuggling has also been linked to broader concerns over law and order, communal tension, and illegal trafficking networks.
Police have repeatedly cracked down on the group, but its members often regroup and resume activities, making arrests like Afzal’s particularly significant in disrupting their chain of operations.
Police Action and Next Steps
The Prayagraj police have confirmed that Afzal is now in judicial custody, and efforts are underway to pursue charges in all active cases against him. Authorities have also reaffirmed their commitment to dismantling the Muzaffar gang’s network through sustained surveillance and targeted operations.
Afzal’s arrest not only marks a victory for law enforcement but also sends a strong message against criminal gangs exploiting rural regions for illegal cattle trade. Police officials said more arrests linked to the gang’s network are likely in the coming weeks.
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