Kanpur Cattle Carcasses Found in Field; VHP-Bajrang Dal Protest Leads to Police Suspensions

Kanpur, UP: Tensions erupted in Bilhaur town, Kanpur, after cattle carcasses were discovered in a tin-shed adjacent to a cemetery wall behind a guesthouse, sparking protests by Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal activists. The incident, captured on video and circulated widely on social media, prompted a massive response from law enforcement.

According to police officials, the carcasses were found on Monday evening in the field belonging to a local resident, Shakir, near the cemetery wall. Following the viral video, VHP and Bajrang Dal members accused the field owner and another local, Rehman Qureshi, of cow slaughter, raising slogans and creating a disturbance. Senior officials, including Joint Police Commissioner Ashutosh Kumar, SDM Sanjeev Kumar Dixit, ADC P Kapil Dev Singh, and ACP Manjay Singh, arrived at the scene to restore order.

A veterinarian was called by the SDM to conduct a post-mortem of the carcasses. Joint Police Commissioner Ashutosh Kumar stated that due to inaction on prior reports of cattle slaughter over the past three days, four police personnel have been suspended for negligence. Those suspended include: Thana In-Charge Ashok Kumar Saroj, Town In-Charge Premveer Singh, Halka In-Charge Aftab Alam, and Head Constable Dileep Gangwar.

Police have registered a case against eight individuals, including Shakir and Rehman, who are currently absconding. During the investigation, a nearby warehouse owned by Shakir, storing tobacco, was sealed by police as a precaution. Search operations for the accused are ongoing, and inquiries into the involvement of other police personnel are underway.

The incident highlights the sensitivity surrounding cattle slaughter in the region and underscores the urgent need for strict enforcement of the law.