Cop among 2 killed in Indian state

At least two persons -- a police inspector and a youth -- were killed yesterday as violence broke out in a town on northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh over alleged illegal slaughter of cow, officials said.

A mob went on the rampage torching a police post and clashed with police which opened fire to control the situation, they said.

Additional Director General of Meerut (Uttar Pradesh) zone Prashant Kumar said the protesters from Mahaw village and nearby areas hurled stones at the police and indulged in arson setting ablaze several vehicles and Chingarwathi police post.

Inspector Subodh Kumar, who was posted at the police post, died in the violence, he said without elaborating. A 20-year-old youth, identified as Sumit, died of gun-shot wounds, Kumar said.

The trouble started when villagers found some parts of the carcass of a cow and a calf in a jungle in Mahaw village, the ADG said.

Angry villagers and members of various Hindu groups brought the animal remains in tractor-trolley to the Chingarwathi police post and demanded action against the culprits. They raised slogans against the police administration and blocked a highway.