‘Cattle’ remains found near Ghaziabad, cops keep guard

Veterinary doctors were called to the spot and samples taken. Later, the remains were collected and buried, police said

Police had to be deployed in large numbers in Ghaziabad’s Sahibabad on Sunday morning when hundreds of locals gathered after animal remains, said to be of cattle, were found in a drain near a populated residential neighbourhood.

The remains were discovered by locals in a drain at Koyal Enclave located near the Bhopra-Loni Road adjacent to the Delhi-Ghaziabad border. (HT Photo)

The remains were discovered by locals in a drain at Koyal Enclave located near the Bhopra-Loni Road adjacent to the Delhi-Ghaziabad border.

Similar incidents had been earlier reported in the last couple of years in nearby Sikandarpur where miscreants allegedly left behind cattle remains.

“The remains were that of a cow as visible at the spot. However, veterinary doctors were called and samples were taken. Later, the remains were collected and buried. It is a clear-cut case of some miscreants deliberately butchering the animal and throwing it near a residential settlement to instigate the local population,” said Sudhir Tyagi, station house officer, Sahibabad.

“We have deployed police in the area as a precautionary measure. A case will be registered against unidentified persons,” he added.

Among those who reached the site were members of the ‘Hindu Raksha Dal,’ an outfit that claims to be protecting cows.

“There was blood all over outside the drain. It seems that more cattle were slaughtered. The remains were thrown in the open and in the drain. There had been similar incidents in these areas and some of them took place in nearby Sikandarpur. Some people are deliberately trying such tactics to instigate locals,” said Sanket Kumar, a member of the outfit.

“It has been a failure of the local intelligence and police. During the previous incidents, some of the culprits had never been caught,” he added.

Cattle remains were found in nearby Pappu Colony in March. In February, a similar incident took place at Sikandarpur and locals protested by blocking the Delhi-Wazirabad Road.

In January 2016, cattle remains were found, again in Sikandarpur, triggering protests. In December 2015 too, another instance of animal slaughter came to light in the same area. Following protests, three PCR-van staff and a sub-inspector in-charge of the Tulsi Niketan police post had been suspended.