Muslim Mob Attack Hindus demonstrating against cow-slaughter in Agra

Clashes in Agra over cow-slaughter (2 articles)

Vijay Upadhyay | Agra Efforts of a Hindu outfit to prevent cow-slaughter in Agra’s Muslim dominated areas have resulted in widespread violence and arson on Wednesday. Hindu activists, who were demonstrating against cow-slaughter, were attacked by a large mob carrying soft-drink bottles and stones.

In the violence, at least eight persons, including a Press photographer, were injured due to stone pelting by the mob. A large number of private vehicles were burned or damaged by the violent crowd while some shops and stalls were ransacked.

To prevent the spread of violence, police had to order lathicharge. But this could not contain the violence and the police fired in the air to disperse the crowd.

By evening, the situation was under control in Naubasta-Lohamandi area of the town where a large contingent of police and Provincial Armed Constabulary jawans were deployed to prevent a fresh outbreak of rioting in the area, though certain areas are still tense. Seven people have been arrested in connection with the violence.

According to Agra District Magistrate Mukesh Kumar Meshram, there had been reports of regular cow-slaughter in Naubasta and Syyedpada and police team led by a group of Bajrang Dal activists carried out a search in some suspected households at 10 am in the morning.

The raid revealed that large number of cows and calves were being slaughtered and when the police tried to arrest culprits, one of them attacked a police constable with a knife, forcing the raiding party to withdraw and call for backup.

Some Bajrang Dal activists, led by its regional convener Shyam Bhadoriya, began protesting against delay in conducting raids at about 12 pm and took out a demonstration in Lohamandi crossing. While they were demonstrating, the activists were attacked by a large mob carrying knives, stones and soft-drink bottles forcing them to run for cover.

The Hindu activists launched a counter attack, further deteriorating the situation and forcing the police personnel present on the location to call for reinforcements, which promptly arrived and brought the situation under control.

Meshram said there are no chances of imposing curfew in the area. He said the situation had been brought under control and would soon become normal. The DM said about half-a-dozen people had been arrested and others were being identified through video footage and photographs made available by the media.

For any comments, queries or feedback, kindly mail us at pioneerletters@yahoo.co.in http://www.dailypioneer.com/indexn12.asp?main_variable=front%5Fpage&file_name=story5%2Etxt&counter_img=5 Mysterious death of cows sparks off clashes in Agra Agra, Apr 18 : Clashes broke out in Agra between two communities following the mysterious death of seven cows. A Hindu outfit took out a demonstration in the Loha Mandi locality after finding the carcass of seven cows in the area. Rival communities indulged in stone pelting, which injured several people. “We carried the carcass of the cows to the police station and asked the police to file a case. The police was reluctant. We took out a peaceful procession when Muslims pelted stones on us. Several of our members were injured,” said Indrajeet Arya. Several rioters were detained following the incident. “We are trying to identify who all were involved in inciting the situation,” said Agra’s District Magistrate Mukesh Meshram.