Arson in UP’s Mainpuri over ‘sacrilege’

Tribune News Service

Lucknow, October 9

Tension prevailed in Mainpuri after reports of an alleged cow slaughter led to violence and arson at Karhal village in Mainpuri today.

A case has been registered and 18 persons have been arrested for the violence. Additional police force has been rushed to the area which is part of the Yadav family bastion.

Briefing mediapersons, Uttar Pradesh ADG, Law and Order, Daljeet Chaudhury said a cow belonging to one Ghanshyam died a natural death in the village.

He employed one Ilyas to skin the animal. While Ilyas and his associate Rafiq were skinning the animal on the outskirts of the village, rumour spread that a cow had been slaughtered.

Angry villagers arrived on the spot where the police also reached. A clash took place between the police and the villagers in which a police vehicle was set ablaze.

Several kiosks and shops were also burnt down before the crowd was controlled. Mainpuri is the pocket borough of the Samajwadi Party.