UP police IG says cow slaughter main issue in Bulandshahr case

MEERUT/LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday assured the family of a police inspector killed in mob violence in Bulandshahr that the guilty would not be spared even as a top police officer said that probing the alleged slaughter of cows, which triggered the clashes that also left a 21-year-old man dead, was more important.

The comment came just hours after the CM, in a late-night meeting, ordered strict action against cow slaughter, unlawful trade in cattle and illegal slaughterhouses, saying district magistrates and other senior police officials would be held personally responsible for any lapse.

Meerut inspector general (IG) of police Ram Singh told news channel NDTV that finding “who was behind cow slaughter... the cow conspiracy” was a “bigger question”. The director general of police, OP Singh, has already hinted at a “larger conspiracy” behind Monday’s violence in Bulandshahr. Adityanath also met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday, but it was not clear whether the Bulandshahr violence was discussed.

The police filed two FIRS – one on the mob violence and the other over alleged cow slaughter. In the first case, 28 people were named, including the prime suspect, absconding Bajrang Dal officebearer Yogesh Raj, who has claimed innocence in a video message.

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