Bulandshahr violence: Protection to fringe elements

Protection and encouragement to fringe elements was emboldening them to lynch even a police officer, Congress spokesperson Priyanka Chaturvedi Tuesday said with regard to the flare-up in Uttar Pradesh's Bulandshahr over a reported cow slaughter incident.

Violence broke out Monday in the UP city after villagers found some body parts of cows in a jungle in Mahaw village.

The animal parts were then taken to the local police station by members of various Hindu groups and villagers demanding action.

The situation soon got violent, resulting in people pelting stones and burning down Chingarwathi Police Chowki as well as several vehicles, following which police opened fire.

Inspector Subodh Kumar, who was posted at the Syana Police Station, died in the violence, and a youth succumbed to gun-shot wounds.

"The situation prevailing in Uttar Pradesh is unfortunate. People who are eager to kill others are not only given protection but are encouraged. Encouragement to such elements has emboldened them to lynch even a police officer, who was trying to maintain law and order," Chaturvedi said here Tuesday.

She was in Pune to inaugurate a poster exhibition, targeting the BJP, organised by former MLC and senior Congress leader Mohan Joshi.

Hitting out at the BJP, she said, "Today, some organisations associated with the ruling parties are feeling so emboldened that they think they can take law into their hands and no action will be taken against them. Such concession to these people is dangerous for the entire country."