Investigating Officer Of Akhlaq Lynching Case Killed By Mob Protesing Cattle Slaughter In Bulandshahr
Bulandshahr: Violence broke here on Monday over alleged illegal slaughter of cattle, leaving a police inspector and a youth dead as a mob went on a rampage here torching a police post and clashed with police, which opened fire to control the situation, officials said.
Additional Director General of Meerut zone Prashant Kumar said the protesters from Mahaw village and nearby areas pelted stones on the police and indulged in arson setting several vehicles and the Chingarwathi Police Chowki on fire.The incident took place at Chingravati area of Sinay Kotwali in Bulandsahr.
District Magistrate Anuj Jha was quoted saying: “One police inspector dead during a clash with people protesting against illegal slaughterhouses in Bulandshahr.”
According to inputs from Zee media, the officer’s name was Subodh Kumar Singh. Incidentally, inspector Subodh Kumar Singh was the investigation officer in the Mohammad Akhlaq lynching case and was instrumental in getting the meat samples to the lab on time.
Subodh Kumar Singh was transferred to Varanasi in the middle of the investigation.
While there were widespread allegations of corruption against Singh, UP police maintained that Singh’s transfer was a routine one.
Akhlaq was beaten to death on September 28, 2017 in Bisahra village in Dadri district by a mob infuriated by rumours that he and his family had stored and consumed beef.
The mob resorted in stone pelting while the policemen tried to get things under control. The police were also forced to retaliate and fired into the mob to control the protesters.
In the process, police inspector Subodh Kumar Singh was critically injured and later passed away.
Another youngster named Sumit who had been admitted to a hospital in Meerut also succumbed to his injuries. SUmit was a 2nd year student. The deceased, had gone to drop his friend who came to his place to give an invitation and got caught in the ruckus. Family members claim that he had been shot in his chest.
Anand Kumar (ADG L&O) said: “One policeman died in stone pelting from villagers, later a local Sumit also got shot and was shifted to a hospital in Meerut where he succumbed to injuries. Probe is underway to find out who shot him Bulandshahr.”
Inspector Subodh Kumar, who was posted at the Syana Police Station, died in the violence, he said, but did not elaborate. Police said a 20-year-old youth, identified as Sumit died of gun-shot wounds.
The trouble started after villagers found some body parts of cow and its progeny in a jungle in Mahaw village, the ADG said. Angry villagers and members of various Hindu groups brought the animal remains in tractor-trolley to the Chingarwathi Police Chowki and demanded action against the culprits.
They raised slogans against the police administration and blocked the Bulandshahr-Garh highway.
District Magistrate Anuj Kumar Jha said police and senior officials tried to reason with the protestors but they refused to budge.
As Sub-divisional Magistrate Avinash Kumar Maurya arrived on the scene, protesters turned violent, pelting stones on policemen and indulging in arson.
District Magistrate Anuj Kumar Jha said police had to open fire in self-defence. (DNA India)
