Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah called the Bulandshahr violence an “unfortunate incident” and said that it should not be politicised.
Addressing reporters at the BJP office in Jaipur on Wednesday, Shah said that the SIT investigation will reveal everything about the incident that rocked the district in western Uttar Pradesh on Monday.
“It is an unfortunate incident, an SIT has been formed and they are investigating,” Shah said referring to the violence in which a police inspector was killed.
“The incident shouldn’t be politicised, everything will become clear when the SIT files its report,” he added.
An angry mob of villagers attacked a police station in Syana as protests against an alleged cow slaughter incident turned violent.
Inspector Subodh Kumar Singh, the SHO of Syana was shot dead from point blank range when he attempted to clear the traffic snarl caused by angry villagers on the Bulandshahr road at Chingravathi.
Opposition parties have been attacking the BJP government led by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath over the Bulandshahr violence and the death of the cop.
Condemning the killing of the policeman, Congress president Rahul Gandhi expressed his concern about the deteriorating law and order situation in the state.
“The killing of Inspector Subodh Kumar Singh by a mob is painful and shameful. When the situation of the police under Modi-Yogi Raj is such, wonder what the situation of the people is,” Gandhi tweeted late on Tuesday.
बुलन्दशहर में पुलिस अधिकारी सुबोध सिंह की अराजक भीड़ द्वारा हत्या दर्दनाक और शर्मनाक है।
मोदी-योगी राज में पुलिस का जब यह हाल है तो आम जनता कितनी दहशत में होगी।
#BulandshahrViolence pic.twitter.com/rDQhacHSvq
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) December 4, 2018
Singh’s family has alleged that he was killed because he was probing the Akhlaq lynching case.
Read More: My brother killed as he was probing Akhlaq case, says sister of slain Bulandshahr cop
According to a statement issued by the police on Monday, the villagers had got information from the Gram Pradhan in the morning that cow meat had been found in Mahavas village, after which Inspector Singh went there for an investigation.
Two Special Investigation Teams (SITs) were formed on Monday. At a press conference in Lucknow, Prashant Kumar, ADG (Law & Order), Meerut Zone, said that IG Meerut Zone will head one of the SITs to investigate why the violence happened and why Inspector SK Singh was alone at the scene of crime.
The UP Police arrested two men and detained four on Tuesday in connection with the violence which also claimed the life of a protester identified as Sumit.
An FIR under IPC sections dealing with murder, rioting and assault was filed against 28 people including Yogesh Raj, reportedly a senior Bajrang Dal leader who had earlier lodged a police complaint alleging cow slaughter. The FIR also lists 60 unnamed people.
Read More: Case registered against 28; BJP protests naming party’s, VHP, Bajrang Dal leaders
The IPS Association had on Tuesday demanded stringent action against those involved in the violence and killing of the Inspector.
“We condemn the lethal attack on .@Uppolice Inspector Subodh Singh, recognise his bravery & risks police officers are exposed to because of disruptive mob mobilisations. We demand strongest action against perpetrators & instigators,” tweeted IPS Association.
We condemn the lethal attack on .@Uppolice Inspector Subodh Singh, recognise his bravery & risks police officers are exposed to because of disruptive mob mobilisations. We demand strongest action against perpetrators & instigators.@PMOIndia @HMOIndia @CMOfficeUP #Bulandshahr
— IPS Association (@IPS_Association) December 4, 2018
In a late night meeting on Tuesday, Yogi Adityanath asked officials to take tough action against those involved in cow slaughter and ensure the shutdown of illegal slaughterhouses. On Wednesday morning, the government said in a statement that Adityanath will meet the family of the slain cop.