Web Report
PAKUR, JHARKHAND — At least 15 people were injured, two of them critically, after policemen clashed with villagers over reports of alleged cow slaughter in Jharkhand’s Pakur district, on Wednesday during Eid-ul-Azha celebrations.
Five persons have been arrested, according to reports. The cases filed are over the attack on the police, animal slaughter and under the Arms Act, according to media reports.
The clashes took place after a team of policemen arrived at Dangapara village following a tip-off about alleged cattle slaughter, PTI reported.
The locals claimed that the police tried to prevent the ritual slaughter and even attempted to take the animals away, NDTV reported. Facing resistance from the villagers, the cops resorted to baton-charge and firing tear gas shells, before opening fire, the report stated.
Three policemen were also injured after a few villagers allegedly chased them away, while two others were wounded later in the day after a few villagers purportedly pelted stones at the cops near Maheshpur police station, Hindustan Times reported.
Section 144 was imposed by the police in the area, prohibiting a large gathering in a bid to curb the violence, according to the daily.
The incident reportedly took place at around 11:30 am on Wednesday after hundreds of people assembled for ritual slaughter at Danga Pada village. Soon after, the cops arrived at the stop after allegedly getting a tip-off that the locals were going to publicly slaughter cows for the ritual.
Cow slaughter has been banned in Jharkhand since 2915. On August 18, the Jharkhand government had also issued a directive for deputy commissioners of all districts to make sure that cattle were not slaughtered on Eid al-Adha.
The situation on Thursday morning is tense but under control, the police said, reports NDTV. A huge number of policemen have been stationed in the area and prohibitory orders banning large gatherings, imposed on Wednesday, are still in force.