Lucknow, December 3: A violent mob protesting against alleged cow slaughter killed a police inspector in Uttar Pradesh's Bulandshahr on Monday. A 20-year-old youth, identified as Sumit, died of gunshot wounds during clashes between police and protesters. According to a report, an initial probe suggested the violence was pre-planned apparently to disturb communal harmony a day after Ijtema concluded in Bulandshahr.

Syana Tehsildar Rajkumar Bhaskar was the first government official who reached the spot in Mahaw village where protests had erupted against the alleged slaughter of cows. According to a report of Live Hindustan, Bhaskar said body parts of cows were displayed. Had somebody slaughtered cows, he would have hidden remains, and not left in open, Bhaskar said. It appears the violence was orchestrated to disrupt peace, said the report.

The violence erupted after activists of Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Hindu Yuva Vahini and other right-wing Hindu groups went berserk alleging that some cows had been slaughtered by a community. Enraged, they loaded the carcasses on tractor trolleys and jammed traffic on a busy road. A police team led by Inspector Subodh Kumar Singh rushed to the scene to pacify the protesters. He was, however, died as protests turned violent.

Inspector Singh was investigating officer in the Akhlaq lynching case of Dadri between September 28, 2015, and November 9, 2015, he said, replying to queries from reporters. Police said Sumit also died of gunshot injuries sustained during the violence. In the melee, the crowd set on fire many police vehicles while passersby were also attacked. Following the arson, the Uttar Pradesh government ordered multiple probes — by SIT, ADG-Intelligence — and a magisterial inquiry.

Expressing grief over the incident, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who is in Rajasthan for the election campaign, said strict action will be taken against the guilty after the probe reports are received. He also announced financial assistance of Rs 50 lakh for the family of slain cop.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 03, 2018 11:52 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).