No Proof of Cow Slaughter: UP ADG on Hapur Lynching

Police claim it was a case of “road rage”, but villagers told The Quint that the brawl broke out over cattle.

New video shows a man being abused and assaulted over suspicion of cow slaughtering in Hapur.

(Photo Courtesy: Video Screengrab)

Click here for the complete list of mob lynchings since 2015

On 18 June, two men were mercilessly beaten up in Hapur, Uttar Pradesh, over suspicion of cow slaughter. Thirty-nine-year-old Qasim was beaten to death while 65-year-old Shaimuddin was severely injured.

After the incident, the police claimed that it was a case of “road rage”, however the villagers told The Quint that the brawl broke out over cattle.

In a conversation with Prime News Live, Uttar Pradesh’s Additional Directer General (Law and Order), Anand Kumar, said, “It is absolutely true that a brawl broke out but to justify the fight it was given a communal overtone. We haven’t found any proof of cow slaughter.”

He also added that two people have been arrested and others have been identified. However, since the village has been vacated it has become difficult for the police.

According to the ADG, an altercation led to the fight and that took a communal overtone.

“The police is not going to spare anyone including the people who have tried to disrupt the peace and harmony of the state by giving this incident a communal angle,” Kumar said.

He also spoke about the picture that showed a police officer dragging one of the victims, Qasim, that has gone viral.

Ashwani Kumar, the investigating officer in the Hapur lynching case, said people were trying to lift the unconscious man from the pit.(Photo Courtesy: Twitter)

Kumar said an investigation into the matter has been ordered, but the police’s version is also being taken into account. However, acknowledging the way the victim was treated, Kumar said, “The police was at fault.”

Kumar said the investigation into the matter will reveal the truth and reiterated his stand that justice will be done to the victim’s family.

Earlier, when The Quint had visited the villages, we were told by the families of the victim that it wasn’t a case of cow slaughter. However, the accused families asserted that whatever happened was for “Gau Raksha” and that they would go to any extent to save cows.