Clash in Palwal over 'beef' in truck; CM orders probe

Chandigarh: Several persons, including 12 policemen, were injured in a clash at Palwal in Haryana over claims of three trucks carrying 'beef', prompting Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar to order an inquiry.

The clash yesterday took place at Kithwari overbridge in Palwal, Superintendent of Police (SP) Mitesh Jain said, adding that the situation there is normal now and the traffic flow restored on the Palwal-Aligarh road following hours of disruption over the disturbance.

According to police, amidst claims that two trucks laden with beef had passed the area a third one was intercepted by some people who alleged that it was carrying the meat to Aligarh in Uttar Pradesh.

The resultant disturbance prompted police to intervene, but the law and order personnel were pelted with stones by the unruly crowd, which also damaged the truck.

Police fired in the air and resorted to a lathicharge and the firing of teargas shells to control the mob.

The truck driver, identified as one Sajid, was arrested and a case registered against him, police said.

Meanwhile, the Haryana chief minister ordered an inquiry into the matter, saying that anybody found to be guilty will not be spared.

The SP, meanwhile, said that police had confiscated the truck and the consignment, which the locals claim is beef, has been buried. "The situation is normal now," he said, adding that a sample of the meat has been sent for testing.

Flow of traffic on the Palwal-Aligarh road is normal after some eight hours' disruption yesterday, he said.

In an incident in Dadri in Uttar Pradesh on September 28, one Mohammed Iqlakh was killed by a mob following rumours that he and his family had eaten and stored beef.