Cow 'Trafficking' In UP: Case Against Lawmaker, Cops; Officials Suspended

The top officials in Uttar Pradesh's Ballia district were suspended by chief minister Akhilesh Yadav a day after a BJP lawmaker and his supporters allegedly clashed with police over "trafficking" of cows. A man was killed and many were injured in an alleged police firing.

The District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police of Ballia have been suspended for failing to maintain law and order. A murder case has been filed against 11 cops and a government official.

A case has also been filed against the BJP legislator Upendra Tiwari.

On Friday, the local police had seized a mini-truck carrying seven cows, saying its paperwork wasn't in order.

The truck and the cows were taken to the local police station. But soon after, Mr Tiwari arrived at the police station with his supporters and asked the police to release the cows, saying they had been brought from a local fair and were being transported with all legitimate paperwork.

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But the policemen refused to do so unless a proper receipt was produced.

The argument led to a clash and the police had to resort to lathicharge and tear gas to control the crowd.

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A supporter of the BJP lawmaker died during the clash. The BJP supporters alleged that he died in police firing but cops have denied the claim.

"We have no such report that any cop fired at the protestors," said Manoj Kumar Jha, the chief of the police.

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"The policemen were hit with stones and that's why we had to resort to lathicharge," said Mr Jha. "We were ready to hand over the cows provided we were given a legitimate receipt. But they were unwilling to relent."