Violence in Palwal over ‘beef’ in truck; co-driver arrested

The Palwal Police registered a case on Friday against the driver and co-driver of a truck which was caught for allegedly carrying beef on Thursday. The police have arrested Sajid, the co-driver of the truck and registered a case under Sections 279, 336 and 291 of the IPC. The driver has been identified as Kalua, a resident of Bulandshahar, who is still absconding.

On contacting an official of the district animal husbandry department, it was revealed that the apportion of the meat seized is likely to be that of a camel and not of cow, which had fuelled the violence making it a religious issue. 

“Prima facie, camel skin and other parts were also found in the truck. The results would take 3-4 days,” the official added.

Police said that the FIR has been registered against the co-driver for overloading and permit violation of meat. It also came to notice that there was no FIR registered for rioting, that left around 10 cops injured after local residents stopped the truck. 

The police had to resort to lathicharge, besides opening fire and using teargas shells to disperse the mob.

Meanwhile, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar ordered an inquiry into the matter, saying that whosoever is involved and found guilty will not be spared.

Police said some local residents spotted three trucks carrying meat from Mewat to Uttar Pradesh’s Aligarh via Palwal on Thursday. 

While two of the trucks managed to pass the area, the third was stopped. The residents suspected that the meat being transported was beef and it was on its way to Uttar Pradesh.

The violence prompted cops to intervene after which stones were pelted and the crowd went beyond control. 

This initiated reinforcement as the crowd had turned very aggressive and kept attacking the policemen. Sources revealed that the violence continued for over five hours. 

The injured included at least five policemen and several members of the mob as well as a villager. 

Initially, the truck was stopped  by a few villagers who saw blood dripping from the truck and became suspicious that it contained meat. 

The SP, meanwhile, said that police had confiscated the truck and the consignment, which the locals claim to have contained “beef”. 

“The situation is normal now,” he said, adding that a sample of the meat has been sent for testing.