Cop Investigating Akhlaq Lynching Case Among 2 Killed In Bulandhshahr Over Cow Slaughter

Inspector Subodh Kumar Singh, a police inspector, who had probed the Akhlaq lynching case initially, and a 20-year-old youth died of gunshot injuries on Monday as a rampaging mob protesting alleged illegal cow slaughter torched a police post in Bulandshahr and clashed with cops, officials said.

Additional Director General (Meerut zone) Prashant Kumar said the protestors from Mahaw village and nearby areas pelted stones on police and indulged in arson, setting ablaze several vehicles and Chingarwathi Police Chowki, after some body parts of cows were found in a jungle near the village, prompting the police to open fire.

Police said there was firing by miscreants also during the clash.

On Tuesday , Kumar said that two named accused have been arrested in the case.

"A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed under IG Range Meerut. Different aspects such as how did this incident occur, why the mob got violent, how many people were there with the inspector and did anyone flee from the spot. SIT will inquire about all these thing and action will be taken if there is any laxity," Kumar said.

Inspector Subodh Kumar Singh, who was posted at Siana Police Station, suffered a gunshot injury in addition to wounds from hard and blunt objects, Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Anand Kumar said, citing the post-mortem report.

Inspector Singh was investigating officer in the Akhlaq lynching case of Dadri between September 28, 2015 and November 9, 2015, he said, replying to queries from reporters.

The mob lynching of Akhlaq over rumours of cow slaughter and possession of beef in his home had triggered a massive outrage across the country.

Police said Sumit (20) also died of gunshot injuries sustained during the violence. Police believe Sumit, an undergraduate student at a government college, was not part of the protest. He was said to be visiting the area to drop a friend when he got caught in the mob violence, according to a report in the Indian Express.

As tension prevailed in the area following the violence that lasted nearly three hours, the Uttar Pradesh government deployed additional police, including over 1,000 personnel of anti-riot forces, and ordered multiple probes — by SIT, ADG-Intelligence — and a magisterial inquiry.

Giving details of the incident, the ADG (Law and Order) said trouble started this morning when carcasses of the cows were found dumped in a forest area outside Mahaw village.

"Activists of right-wing organisations soon gathered at the spot and alleged that people of a community were indulging in cow slaughter," he said.

Angry villagers and members of various Hindu groups brought the animal remains in a 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 State Highway.

Bulandshahr District Magistrate Anuj Kumar Jha, Sub-divisional Magistrate Avinash Kumar Maurya and other senior officials tried to reason with the protestors but they refused to budge.

The protesters soon turned violent, pelting stones on policemen and indulging in arson, Jha said.

Though some officials earlier said the inspector died after he was hit by a blunt object, the post-mortem report said he was hit by a bullet.

“We received information around 11 am that 15-20 cow carcasses were recovered by residents of Chingravati in Syana. People carried these carcasses in tractors and other vehicles to state roads, and in front of the Chingravati police chowki. Police officers from Syana station began questioning these people to file an FIR. During that process, certain anti-social elements created a ruckus and light force had to be used to contain them. Matters escalated and people began pelting stones," said Jha according to the Indian Express report.

“In the clash, the Syana station in-charge was fatally injured while his gunner was critically injured. I would say that the police officer was brave that he ventured into the crowd alone to pacify them. He was just doing his job. He was known to be a person who never held back from any tough situation. We have lost an asset,” he added.

The SHO's vehicle was driven by another policeman, Ram Ashray, who according to the report said, "Sahab was lying on the ground. I drove the car to a field and put him in it. As soon as we began moving, a mob landed and started shouting, ‘maaro, maaro’. They were throwing stones from behind trees. Everyone started running. I ran as well. The SHO was already injured and we were trying to take him to the hospital. We could hear gunshots from the sugarcane fields. The attackers were throwing stones at us, and hurling abuses. There were two other policemen with me.”

"The entry of the bullet is near the left eyebrow. As per PM report it appears to be a .32 bore," the ADG (law and order) said.

"It is clarified that Subodh Kumar Singh was investigating officer of the Akhlaq lynching case of Dadri from September 28, 2015 till November 9, 2015. Charge sheet was filled in the case by a different investigation officer in March 2016," he told reporters.

Kumar said the ADG-intelligence has been asked to submit a report in 48 hours which will throw light on circumstances of his death.

Akhlaq was lynched in 2015 by a mob that had barged into his residence in Dadri following rumour that he stored beef in his house after slaughtering a calf.

A video showing the body of a policeman slumped to ground from the seat of a police vehicle surrounded by some people came to light after the Sunday incident. But the police refused to confirm if it was of inspector Subodh.

However, a senior police official requesting anonymity said, "In all likelihood, it appears to be Subodh Kumar's."

The ADG (law and order) said additional reinforcements -- 500 personnel of Rapid Action Force and 600 personnel of Provincial Armed Constabulary -- were rushed to the spot of violence and the situation was under control.

The violence started at around 10 am in Siana area in the district where a major three-day Islamic congregation had concluded this afternoon. The police warned against attempts to spread any misleading information, saying the incident was not related in any way to the congregation.

“Please don’t spread misinformation. This incident is not linked to the Ijtema procession in any way. The Ijtema concluded peacefully. The current incident happened 45-50 kilometres away from where the Ijtema was held. Some rowdy elements are the perpetrators of this incident. Statutory action is being taken in the case,” Bulandshahr Police tweeted from its official handle after people started linking the violence to the Ijtema congregation.

ADG (Meerut) Prashant Kumar and IG Ram Kumar rushed to the spot to take stock of the situation. Police presence in Syana, as well as Bulandshahr city, have been stepped up. Bulandshahr SSP K B Singh said: “We are observing the situation. Requisite police force has been deployed to maintain peace. Senior officers are also supervising the situation.”

"The incident occurred 40-50 km away from the congregation site. Some miscreants were behind the violence and action is being taken against them in accordance with law," the Bulandshahr Police tweeted in the evening.

Expressing grief over the incident, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who is in Rajasthan for election campaign, said strict action will be taken against the guilty after the probe reports are received.

In Lucknow, the Uttar Pradesh government announced a total of Rs 50-lakh assistance to the kin of Inspector Singh. The government said Rs 40 lakh would be given to his wife and Rs 10 lakh to his parents.

The Congress hit out at the chief minister, saying he should first set his own house in order before "gallivanting" around the country for election campaign.

wiht PTI inputs