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Murder over ‘beef’: 3 Nashik cops suspended, API shunted
On the evening of June 24, vigilantes stopped a car at Gambhirwadi Phata near Igatpuri, suspecting the meat in the vehicle to be beef which is banned Maharashtra, and attacked the two men in it with iron roads that left one of them dead and the other severely injured
Days after a man was allegedly killed and his co-traveller beaten up by cow vigilantes over suspicion of transporting beef from Nashik district, Superintendent of police (Nashik rural) Shahaji Umap on Thursday suspended three policemen for dereliction of duty.
Umap also transferred the investigating officer of assistant police inspector (API) rank posted at Ghoti Police Station to control room for negligence in discharging duties.
On the evening of June 24, vigilantes stopped a car at Gambhirwadi Phata near Igatpuri, suspecting the meat in the vehicle to be beef which is banned Maharashtra, and attacked the two men in it with iron roads that left one of them dead and the other severely injured. The deceased has been identified as Affan Ansari, 31, and survivor Nasir Quereishi, 24, is admitted at KEM Hospital in Mumbai.
The duo was stopped by 15 members of Gau Rakshak Group after receiving a tip-off from a toll plaza employee.
Police have already arrested 11 persons under various charges, including murder, and are currently in police custody until July 2.
According to Umap, suspension of three policemen and transfer of another official was taken after initial inquiry found that they did not act in time.
“They (against whom action has been taken) did not attend to the incident as expected. They were present but did not act quickly. Hospitalisation of the victim was delayed,” said Umap over phone.
According to the Nasik rural police, the transferred official is assistant police inspector (API) Shraddha Gandhas, and suspended constables are Bipin Jagtap, Bhaskar Shelke and Kisan Kachare.
The killing of man, second in Nashik district within three weeks, had evoked sharp reactions with questions raised about vigilantes getting emboldened. Earlier, on June 8, two cattle transporters were attacked by six members of Rashtriya Bajrang Dal at the Gambhirwadi Phata located 25 km from the latest spot which led to the murder of cattle trader Lukman Ansari.
Meanwhile, police have warned cow vigilantes in Nashik district on not taking law into their hands. The Nashik SP held a meeting with cow vigilantes in Igatpuri area earlier this week and asked them to alert authorities if they come across any case where there is suspicion of banned beef being transported.
