Bulandshahr violence: Yogi Adityanath holds meeting with top officials over law and order situation

A day after a police inspector and a villager were killed in Uttar Pradesh’s Bulandshahr allegedly by right-wing activists after the discovery of cow carcasses strewn in a nearby jungle, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath held a meeting with top officials on Tuesday evening at his residence over the law and order situation in the state.

The state government announced that the family of Sumit Kumar, the youth killed in the violence, will be given Rs 10 lakh as compensation. On Monday,  Adityanath declared a compensation of Rs 40 lakh for the deceased police officer's wife, Rs 10 lakh for his parents and a government job for one family member.

The police on Tuesday arrested four people and were hunting for a Bajrang Dal activist 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.

Also Read | My father wanted us to be secular: Son of UP cop killed in Bulandshahr

According to reports, a mob of some 400 people, including right-wing activists, fought pitched battles with the police on Monday in Siana area of Bulandshahr district, apparently after they were angered by the discovery of cow carcasses.           

The mob set fire to dozens of vehicles, hurled stones and also fired guns at police who retaliated with gunfire. In the violence, Inspector Subodh Kumar Singh, the station house officer of Siana, and 20-year-old Sumit Kumar were killed.

A video emerged Tuesday showing what a young man with his hand over a bleeding wound near the abdomen, being helped by other people as they all run. Someone is heard in the audio saying the man has been shot. It was not clear if the man is Sumit Kumar.

Prashant Kumar, ADG Meerut Zone said on Tuesday at the wreath-laying ceremony of the slain cop that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed to investigate the cause of the violence and why police personnel left Subodh Kumar alone.

He said while the main accused Yogesh Raj is still absconding, four people in connection with the murder has been arrested so far.

This brings to forth if the police had any role to play that led to the death of a fellow cop. the police have also lodged two FIRs in the case. The first against the alleged cow slaughter and the second against the violent protests which followed.

The family members of Subodh Kumar Singh have slammed Adityanath and alleged police conspiracy in the incident. Sister of the Siana police station SHO claimed that her brother was murdered in the cold blood because of his involvement in the investigation of 2015 Dadri mob lynching in which one, Mohammed Akhlaq, was killed by bricks and sticks on suspicion of storing beef at his home.

Also Read | Family of killed Bulandshahr cop alleges police conspiracy, slams Yogi

 Abhishek Kumar, the slain cop’s son, said his father wanted his children to be good and secular citizens. A student of class 12, Abhishek had just finished writing his exam when he received the news of his father’s killing during the violence.

“He wanted us to be a good citizen. He wanted us to be a person who doesn’t incite violence in the name of religion. Be it Hindu, Muslim, Sikh or Christian everyone is equal over here,” news agency ANI quoted Abhishek as saying.

(With agency inputs)