UP: 21 held for violence, cow slaughter rumour

At least 21 people were arrested on Saturday for spreading <g data-gr-id="27">rumour</g> about cow slaughter and indulging in violence, officials said. 

Cases were also registered against 250 people for their role in the violence in which people pelted stones at the police, torched several vehicles and lay siege to an important road for several hours.

Two people were beaten up badly on Friday after people alleged they had slaughtered a cow. As police tried to stop the unruly mob and whisked the two away, people went on the rampage, setting vehicles on fire and attacking police.

The district administration said after a probe on Saturday that the charges of cow slaughter were found to be false. The cow was found dead in a field. The two accused – Lalla and Shafiq – <g data-gr-id="31">were in fact</g> skinning it. They hold a license for this job, district magistrate Chandrapal Singh informed.

Residents, however, alleged the cow belonged to <g data-gr-id="32">Rakshvadra</g> of <g data-gr-id="33">Karhal</g> and that it had gone missing since Friday morning. It was found in a field with the two accused and three of their accomplices by its side. The three have been missing since then. after locals set on fire two police jeeps and also damaged several other vehicles and shops. Police had a tough time rescuing the two youngsters, who have now been admitted to a local medical facility. Violence broke out in Quraishiana locality after some people were reportedly caught slaughtering a cow.