Mob beat two youths for 'slaughtering' cow

A mob on Friday beat up two youths after they were allegedly found slaughtering a cow in Mainpuri of Uttar Pradesh.

Though police rescued the victims and admitted them to a local hospital, the mob disrupted law and order and pelted stones at police personnel and set a police vehicle on fire.

The police, however, resorted to baton charge to disperse the crowd and heavy police reinforcements were pushed to the area. According to local media reports, police also made some arrests.

Mainpuri District Magistrate Chandrapal Singh, who visited the site to take stock of the situation, said, "They (the mob) are causing disturbance. Right now, police are patrolling. The situation is under control. Tough action will be taken against the culprits and ones who set things on fire. They will be arrested. Action will be taken against those too who took part in the cow slaughtering and NSA (National Security Act) will be implemented," said Singh.

In the Jammu region, meanwhile, shops, public transport, educational institutions and businesses remained closed in Udhampur, Reasi and Chenani towns on Saturday following a shutdown call was given by Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party (JKNPP), demanding the arrest of independent legislator Engineer Rashid over a "beef party" hosted by him.

JKNPP protesters hit the streets shouting slogans against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is a part of coalition government in the state, along with the Peoples' Democratic Party (PDP).

"Instead of putting him (Engineer Rashid) behind bars, the BJP government called him to the assembly and apologised to him. This is a great insult to the people of Jammu and Kashmir. We cannot tolerate this. We demand immediate arrest of Rashid," said JKNPP Chairman Harsh Dev, demanding stringent action against cow slaughter.

Beef has become a contentious issue after the High Court banned its sale in the state, leading to communal tension. The order drew flak from various quarters as many separatist and religious groups called it "interference in their religious affairs" and sought revocation of the law.

The government has appealed against the verdict in the apex court.

Meanwhile, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) legislator Raghuvansh Prasad on Friday stirred fresh controversy over cow slaughter with his comment that "Hindu seers used to consume beef".

"It is written in the Vedas and scriptures that in the earlier times the saints and seers also used to consume beef. But there is no need for this frivolous debate during elections. The debate needs to be about what work has to be done for people, how development will be taken forward and if grand alliance comes to power it will provide 35 percent reservation for women, build roads, provide electricity and water for 24 hours and employment to the unemployed," said Prasad in Muzaffarpur Bihar.