Bulandshahr mob violence: Cop killing can wait, probing cow slaughter takes priority for UP police

The killing of a policeman and a civilian during mob violence over alleged cow slaughter in Bulandshahr district has brought to the fore the priorities of Uttar Pradesh police. The investigating cops are more concerned about nabbing those accused of alleged cow slaughter than killers of the two people, The Indian Express has reported.

Inspector Subodh Kumar Singh and a 20-year-old civilian named Sumit Kumar were murdered in mob violence triggered by alleged killing of cows.

As the case is under investigation, Additional Superintendent of Police (Bulandshahr) Rayees Akhtar told the publication that finding the cow-killers is the “top priority” at this moment, whereas the murder and rioting case is “on the backburner for now”.

In support of his comment, the official said it was the “killing of the cows that led to the protest, which resulted in Singh’s murder”. If the culprits behind the alleged cow slaughter were nabbed, it will throw light on how the murder occurred, said Akhtar.

As many as 27 people have been named in the FIR registered by police after the violence. The FIR also mentioned 50-60 unidentified people. Apart from the FIR over the mob violence, they have lodged another on the alleged cow slaughter.

The police have reported only four arrests so far, including Chaman, Devendra, Ashish Chauhan and Satish — for their alleged involvement in Singh’s murder. But they are yet to nab the main accused, Yogeshraj Singh, a Bajrang Dal activist.

Yogeshraj Singh, who is on the run, had posted a video on social media claiming innocence. In his video message, he said he was not present at the site of the violence.

A local BJP leader, Shikhar Agarwal, wanted by police in Singh’s killing, has also released a similar video. In the clip, Agarwal, who is BJP's Syana unit youth wing president, claimed it was the inspector who created tension by stopping him and others from taking some carcasses to the Chingrawathi police post for filing an FIR over the alleged cow slaughter.

Agarwal was also heard claiming that Singh threatened to kill him and his aides.