Lucknow, December 7: In his first public reaction to the mob violence in Bulandshahr which has claimed two lives, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said the incident should be considered an "accident". He further claimed that law and order in UP is stable, with no instances of mob lynching being reported across the state.

Yogi's reaction came days after he drew flak from the Opposition for instructing the police to "nab the cow slaughterers on priority", while reportedly maintaining silence on the killing of Inspector Subodh Kumar Singh. Army Jawan Named in FIR For Killing Inspector Subodh Kumar Singh.

"What happened in Bulandshahr was an accident," Yogi was quoted as saying by CNN News 18. The CM further quipped that there are no incidents of lynching being reported in any part of Uttar Pradesh.

Yogi's late reaction to the Bulandshahr violence comes in the backdrop of criticism he faced for attending poll rallies in Telangana and Rajasthan on Tuesday -- a day after the lynching of Inspector Singh. The CM also attended a Kabaddi tournament and a laser show in Gorakhpur, before meeting the family of the slain police personnel on Thursday.

Notably, Singh was killed by a mob shortly after a local, identified as Sumit, was shot in the police firing. The UP police has booked 90 people for the violence in Bulandshahr, including members of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal.

Yogi's claim of "accident" contradicts the preliminary report submitted Additional Director General (Intelligence) SB Shirodkar. The report, yet to be reviewed by the CM, alleged a larger conspiracy behind the Bulandshahr incident. The target was to incite communal tensions by attacking a Muslim congregation gathered in Bulandshahr for ijtema.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 07, 2018 03:38 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).