Bulandshahr violence: Yogi Adityanath orders strict action against cow slaughter

Even as Yogesh Raj, the main accused in the Bulandshahr violence, is yet to be arrested two days after the incident, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday night ordered strict action against cow slaughter, unlawful trade in cattle and illegal slaughterhouses. On Monday, a mob of some 400 people, including right-wing activists, violently rampaged through the Chingrawathi village apparently after cow carcasses were found strewn in a jungle nearby.

The police have so far only arrested four people in connection with the violence that left inspector Subodh Kumar Singh, the station house officer of Siana, and 20-year-old Sumit Kumar dead. Subodh Kumar Singh's familiy members have demanded proper investigation into the matter.

Yogesh on Wednesday issued a video message, saying he was not present at the spot. In the video, which is going viral, Yogesh chants 'Jai Shree Ram' as introduces himself as the Bulandshahr district convenor of the Bajrang Dal. According to Yogesh, he is innocent and the police are portraying him as if he is a “history-sheeter." The right-wing group asked him to surrender before police but said it believed he was innocent.

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Adityanath said the district magistrate and other senior police officials of a district will be held personally responsible for any lapse. His instructions were conveyed by Chief Secretary Anup Pandey to magistrates and superintendents of police of all 75 districts through a video link, an official release said.

Since Monday, the Opposition, Congress president Rahul Gandhi and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, severely criticised Adityanath over the law and order situation in the state. have slammed the law and order situation in the state.

Hoping that the Uttar Pradesh Police would also realise that the chief minister was not there to grieve with the families when one of their officers was shot dead, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi said on Wednesday.

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Adityanath will meet the slain inspector's family on Thursday, officials said. He directed district magistrates and senior officials to send weekly reports and ordered divisional commissioners and zonal IGs/DIGs to review implementation of his instructions issued on Wednesday night.

(With PTI inputs)