Agencies, Bulandshahr
Two people including a police inspector have died in violence that broke out Monday in Uttar Pradesh’s Bulandshahr district after reports of alleged cow slaughter, police said.
A 20-year-old youth Sumit Kumar was also succumbed to injuries received in police firing. Additional Director General of Meerut zone Prashant Kumar said a mob pelted the police with stones and indulged in arson setting several vehicles and the Chingarwathi Police Chowki on fire.
Police sources here said that some Hindu organisations were protesting against cow slaughtering after carcasses of bovine were found in an agriculture farm in Mahav village early on Monday morning. Agitated crowd chocked the Syana Bulandsharh National Highway near Chingravathi police outpost after loading carcasses in tractor-trolley.
When police tried to pacify the situation and clear the traffic jam agitated crowd started hurling stones on police team. Following which matter escalated and mob vandalised and torched the police outpost.
In an attempt to control the situation police opened fire in air but stone hurling increased in which Syana police outpost in-charge Subodh Kumar Singh was severely injured. Injured policeman was rushed to the hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.
Senior police officials have rushed to the spot and further probe into the matter was on, police said.
As tension prevailed in the area, policemen from several police stations have been rushed along with senior officials to take control of the situation, police said.
There was report of a youth succumbing to injuries received in police firing, but there was no official confirmation.
“Around 400 locals had collected there with tractor trolleys with the carcasses. The mob pelted stones. The Inspector was hit on the head and a couple of other policemen also injured,” said Anand Kumar, a senior officer of the state police.
Cellphone footage from the area, shot by onlookers, shows the gutted police post and young men attacking policemen with stones.
Reports say the police fired in the air and used batons, but has not been able to bring things under control so far. Additional reinforcements have been sent to the area.
Two senior police officers, Additional Director General Prashant Kumar and Inspector General of police Ram Kumar have also gone to the spot.
The violence coincides with a major three-day Islamic congregation that’s taking place in the district. The police say they are trying to divert vehicles from the area to ease tensions.