The discovery of the cow carcasses on December 3, 2018, in Bulandshahr, had triggered mob violence. Inspector Subodh Kumar Singh, 44, and civilian Sumit Kumar, 20, of Chingrawathi village were both killed in the violence. In the days that followed the violence, two separate FIRs were registered — one for the rioting and the other for cow slaughter. The UP administration, however, seems only interested in going after those accused of allegedly slaughtering cows.
The Uttar Pradesh Police have invoked the National Security Act (NSA) against the seven accused arrested in connection with the alleged cow slaughter in Bulandshahr’s Siyana tehsil. The police authorities have claimed that the alleged cow slaughter by the three accused — Azhar Khan, Nadeem Khan and Mehboob Ali — was an “act of terror” and was meant to “disturb the peace” in the area.
Speaking to PTI, District Magistrate Anuj Jha affirmed the use of the NSA in this case. “To maintain public order and amity, the three have been charged under the section 3 sub-section 3 of the NSA. The action has been taken based on a police report which stated that the trio indulged in cow slaughtering for earning money illegally,” Jha said.
“Their acts have hurt the sentiments of Hindus in Mahav and Nayabans village after which the violence broke out in which people attacked the police with sticks and axe, among others, and Inspector Subodh Kumar Singh was killed. This had disturbed public order and communal harmony,” Jha added.
District administration officials said the accused were trying to seek bail and they could again get involved in a similar crime after coming out of jail. “This may cause a serious threat to law and order, peace and communal harmony in the area. Therefore, it has been decided to book them under NSA,” the officials said.
(With PTI Inputs)
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