MANSA/BARNALA: Joga village remained tense and volatile on Monday, a day after residents targeted a factory for slaughtering cows. There was complete bandh in Mansa, Barnala and Budhlada towns on Monday. An angry crowd torched four motorcycles at Mansa, presuming that they belonged to persons involved in ferrying the cows for slaughter. Curfew, though, was relaxed in Joga for six hours.
Meanwhile, police booked five persons after recovering 88 bulls from nearby Bhainibhaga village even as Joga SHO Rajinderpal Singh was placed under suspension. Mansa SSP Sukhdev Singh Chahal was suspended on Sunday, for dereliction of duty in the aftermath violence triggered over the killing of cows.
People had gone on rampage on Sunday, after word spread of slaughtering of more than 30 cows at animal bone crushing factory. Angry residents had damaged the factory and the houses of its three partners. When police failed to restore order, the district administration clamped a curfew. Besides, police had booked the factory partners for hurting religious sentiments and under Cow Slaughter (Prevention) Act.
Following a call by Vishva Hindu Parishad for complete bandh in Mansa and Barnala, hundreds of residents and activists landed on the streets and forced the closure of business establishments. Some heated exchanges were also reported at Barnala. Angry Mansa residents staged a dharna and headed towards court road when they heard that some cows were being transported in a truck. Seeing them, the truck driver left in a huff, while four motorcyclists fled in fear after leaving behind their bikes. The crowds torched the bikes and set the cows free.
Mansa DC Amit Dhaka said the administration was keeping a strict vigil and that the situation was under control.
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