Tension in Nagaur after cow slaughter rumours, 30 held

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While locals claimed about 200 cows had been slaughtered and brought to Kumhari village near Nagaur, police said it was a routine municipal job involving dead animals.

“Every municipality contracts out collection of stray dead animals, their skinning, separation of bones, etc. This is what Hamid, the municipal contractor, was doing. It is nothing new… he has been doing it for some time now… It is a routine job carried out on private land,” Nagaur collector Vishal Rajan said.

“But some people with vested interests started this misinformation campaign on WhatsApp and Facebook,” he added.

As rumours spread, people gathered in Kumhari village and pelted stones at municipal vehicles.

“They burnt a JCB vehicle and a tractor and pelted stones… Some 30-35 people have been detained,” Nagaur SP Raghuvendra Suhasa said.

Five companies of the Rajasthan Armed Constabulary were deployed in Kumhari and senior district officials were sent to the spot, Suhasa said, adding that the situation was under control.