Four held in connection with cop killing, family alleges conspiracy

Four persons have been arrested in connection with the killing of a police inspector here yesterday in a mob violence over suspected cow slaughter, even as his family alleged conspiracy since the slain cop was investigating a lynching case.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed grief over the killing of Inspector Subodh Kumar and promised a speedy investigation into the matter, which has triggered a major outrage and political bickering.

The state government on Tuesday ordered a probe by a Special Investigation Team (SIT), headed by an Inspector General of Police (IGP), to probe all aspects related to the incident.

Subodh Kumar was killed in the violence took place after the carcasses of 25 cattle were found in the forests close to a police post, with the locals alleging that those belonged to cows slaughtered illegally.

A local youth was also killed in the violence.

"Four people have been arrested. I don't know about the organizations (responsible for the violence) yet, but the main accused in the violence is Yogesh Raj who has not been arrested till now," Additional Director General (Law & Order) Anand Kumar said while addressing a press conference.

According to sources, post mortem conducted on Subodh Kumar confirms gunshot injury by .32 mm bore bullet on his head.

Additional DG (Meerut Zone) Prashant Kumar said an SIT has been formed under IG Range Meerut.

He said the SIT will probe different aspects, such as how the incident occurred, why the mob got violent, how many people were there with the Inspector and whether anyone flee from the spot. "Action will be taken if any laxity is found," Prashant Kumar said.

Police have lodged two FIRs, one into the alleged cattle slaughter and the other into the violent protests which followed.

At least 27 people have been named by the police in the FIR into the violent protests, It also mentions 60 unnamed people allegedly involved in the violence, the police said.

A bullet has been recovered from the body of local youth Sumit, who also died in the violence yesterday, Anand Kumar said.

The final post-mortem report will ascertain the bore of the bullet, the ADG added.

ADG (Intelligence) SP Shirodkar visited the violence-hit area on Tuesday and said "We'll submit a report tomorrow evening."

Meanwhile, Subodh Kumar's sister Saroj Singh Chauhan alleged a conspiracy behind the killing of her brother.

"My brother has been killed because he was investigating the Akhlaq murder case. This is a conspiracy," she told ANI.

Akhlaq was lynched by a mob in Dadri area of Uttar Pradesh in September 2015 over suspicion of cow slaughter.

"Why was my brother alone in his vehicle? Police are complacent in its role in the incident," Saroj charged.

The police vehicle in which Subodh Kumar was killed was charred in the incident.

Targeting Yogi Adityanath, Saroj Chauhan said, "What is this 'gai-gai' (cow protection) our Chief Minister keeps uttering all the time? Why doesn't he come onto the ground and serve the cause of cow protection? Today, I have lost my brother because of a cow!"

She demanded that her brother be declared a martyr and a memorial be built for him since he died in the line of duty.

"What good is the 50,000 or 50 lakh rupees for us? We will return it. We want a martyr memorial in our village. I need nothing except honour for my brother," she added.

She informed that the deceased cop's father too was a policeman and had died in a similar incident when he was shot dead.

The slain cop's wife said justice would be done only when his killers are killed.

"He worked with complete honesty and took all the responsibility on himself. This is not the first incident. He suffered bullet injury twice before. But now nobody is giving him justice. Justice will be done only if his killers are killed," the wailing wife said.

Governor Ram Naik described yesterday's incident as condemnable and said the Chief Minister has ordered a probe.

"Whatever may be the reason, such incidents can't be allowed," he added.

"I hope the truth will be out in 2 days as he (CM) said strict action will be taken against those who committed this crime," Naik said.

The Opposition parties used the incident to slam the Yogi Adityanath-led government.

"It's a shocking state of affairs how a mob killed a police officer investigating the Akhlaq case," Congress leader Kapil Sibal said.

Attacking the UP Chief Minister, the former union minister said, "Instead of taking care of his state, Yogi is going to Telangana and spewing venom."

BSP leader and former UP Chief Minister Mayawati alleged that there was "jungle raj" in the state.

Senior BJP leader Subramanian Swamy, on the other hand, alleged that there could be Congress party's hand in the Bulandshahr violence.

"This incident occurred because of some miscreants. We will find out whether they were Congressmen who are trying to give a bad name to Uttar Pradesh chief Minister Adirtyanath Yogi government or something else," Dr Subramanian Swamy told ANI.

Reacting to the Congress party's allegations that "Uttar Pradesh is burning and Yogi is busy in campaigning", Swamy said, "Wasn't India burning during 1984 anti-Sikh riots? In fact, nothing has brought us as bad a name as the genocide of 1984.