Cow vigilante struck terror in Bulandshahr when they went on rampage killing two persons, including a police inspector, besides torching several vehicles and a police outpost on Monday noon. The violence erupted just after the recovery of the body parts of a cow and calf in a nearby jungle.
Expressing concern over the incident, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath directed ADG (Intelligence) SB Shirodkar to rush to Bulandshahr and submit a detailed finding within the next 48 hours for necessary action against those found guilty. Adityanath also directed top officials camping in the area to take all necessary measures to maintain peace and initiate stern action against those involved in violence.
In Lucknow, ADG (Law and Order) Anand Kumar said the UP government constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the incident.
He added that the SIT would be headed by IG of Meerut Range Ram Kumar. He said that a magisterial probe had also been ordered which is separate to the probe conducted by ADG, Intelligence. Sources also confirmed that the post-mortem report of the inspector revealed that he died of a bullet injury on his head. Reinforcement was rushed to spot of violence in Bulandshahr and situation was under control, Kumar added.
Additional Director General of Meerut Zone Prashant Kumar told mediapersons in Meerut that 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. Inspector Subodh Kumar, who was posted at the Syana police station, died in the violence. Police said 20-year-old Sumit died of gun-shot wounds. A heavy police force was camping in the area and the situation was said to be tense but under control when the reports last came in.
Reports said that the trouble started on Monday noon after villagers found some body parts of a cow and calf in a jungle in Mahaw village. Angry villagers and members of various Hindu groups brought the animal remains in a tractor-trolley to Chingarwathi police chowki and demanded action against culprits. They raised slogans against the police administration and blocked the Bulandshahr-Garh highway. District Magistrate Anuj Kumar Jha and SSP, Bulandshahr, KB Singh, who reached the spot, said that police and senior officials tried to reason with protestors but they refused to budge. As SDM 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. Meerut Divisional Commissioner Aneeta C Meshram said she was rushing to the spot to take stock of the situation.