Cow slaughter: Mob targets police in Uttar Pradesh; cop, villager die

According to reports, villagers had gathered outside the police station to demonstrate against cow slaughter.

The villagers reportedly threw stones towards the police.

The deceased police officer was identified as Inspector Subodh Kumar Singh.

Another villager also died during the violence which took place around 11 am, reports said.

A Special Investigation Team has been formed to investigate the cow slaughter and the mob violence. Security has been bolstered in the area with five companies of Rapid Action Force and six companies of Provincial Armed Constabulary, reported NDTV.

A senior Uttar Pradesh police officer told Hindustan Times: "On this information, the police and executive magistrate reached the spot."

The violence reportedly occurred hours after carcasses of the cows were found dumped in a forest area outside the village.

"Around 400 locals had collected there with tractor trolleys with the carcasses. The mob pelted stones. The Inspector was hit on the head and a couple of other policemen also injured," said Anand Kumar, a senior officer of the state police, told NDTV.

Speaking on the incident, Anuj Kumar Jha, the district magistrate, told NDTV: "Some people took the bodies of the animals and tried to block the road. The policemen were attacked when they tried to get the road opened."