Protests erupted in Jammu’s Udhampur district after three cows were found dead in Gharian Dhanas area of Chenani tehsil on Thursday.
Mobile internet was also suspended briefly in the entire Jammu region, although it remained blocked in Udhampur till last reports came in.
Reports said one carcass was found near the sub-district magistrate’s office in Chenani and two others in the vicinity. Witnesses said as the news spread, angry members of the Hindu community downed the shutters of their shops and blocked the national highway at two areas in protest.
The protestors also burnt tyres and raised slogans demanding the arrest of the culprits.
The blockade ended only after Udhampur deputy commissioner Shahid Iqbal and the senior superintendent of police (SSP) promised to bring the culprits to book.
Sources said the bovines were apparently poisoned, but added that it could be confirmed only after the post-mortem.
Deputy commissioner Iqbal told HT that the police are investigating the case. “Three animals were found dead and one had a cut on her ear. We requested the divisional commissioner Jammu to suspend internet services after rumours started floating on social media,” he added.
Late in the afternoon, right-wing Hindu organisations Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), the Shiv Sena, and political parties such as BJP and the Panthers Party held protest rallies in Udhampur city.
{{/usCountry}}Late in the afternoon, right-wing Hindu organisations Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), the Shiv Sena, and political parties such as BJP and the Panthers Party held protest rallies in Udhampur city.
{{/usCountry}}The organisations unanimously called for bandh in the city on Friday.
Two months ago, a mob attacked and set afire the vehicle of deputy commissioner Samba after rumours about cow slaughter surfaced.
It was later confirmed in the postmortem that the animal was a male ox.