MEERUT: Three people have been arrested in connection with an alleged case of cow slaughter in Meerut, police said on Monday. Around one quintal of beef and a cow were recovered from their possession.According to police, the arrests were made after an encounter in the Sardhana area on Sunday night. A police team, which was on patrol, acted on a tip-off about suspected cow slaughter in a forested area near Nagla Order village along the Ganga Canal.When officers reached the spot and tried to detain the suspects, the accused allegedly opened fire. Police returned fire in self-defense, during which one of the accused, identified as Monish, was injured. He was later taken to a community health center for treatment.Two others, Dilshad alias Dillu and Sartaj alias Dhamaka, were also arrested, while a few suspects managed to escape. Police said illegal weapons, cartridges, tools used in the alleged slaughter, and a car were seized from the spot.A case has been registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Arms Act, and the Uttar Pradesh Prevention of Cow Slaughter Act. Efforts are ongoing to trace and arrest the remaining accused.