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Himachal: Hindu outfits, locals block highway after suspected cow remains found in Paonta Sahib

The protests erupted after the remains were found floating in the Yamuna in the Paonta area as well as in the Uttarakhand side of the river

BJP's Paonta Sahib MLA Sukhram Chaudhary also joined the protest and demanded quick police action

Several right wing organisations, including the Bajrang Dal, staged a dharna and blocked the Dehradun-Chandigarh National Highway Monday after suspected cow remains were found near a village in Sirmaur district’s Paonta Sahib town, police said.

The protests erupted after the remains were found floating in the Yamuna in the Paonta area as well as in the Uttarakhand side of the river with local and Hindu outfits claiming that they were of “freshly-slaughtered” cows. In Paonta, the remains were found on the banks of Yamuna in village Manakpur Devda.

As the news spread, locals gathered at Shri Parshuram Chowk and started a ‘dharna’, demanding immediate action. By evening, their numbers had swelled and members of Hindu organisations such as the Bajrang Dal too joined the protest and and reached the Yamuna bridge, which links Himachal Pradesh with Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh.

Demanding immediate action, they blocked the highway. BJP’s Paonta Sahib MLA Sukhram Chaudhary also joined the protest and demanded quick police action. He also appealed for peace.

Deputy Superintendent of Police, Paonta Sahib, Manvinder Thakur, said similar protests were held in Harbutpur area of Uttarakhand. “We have spoken to our counterparts in Uttarkhand. They have lodged an FIR in this case. Traffic on Paonta Sahib-Dehradun road is affected. Efforts are on to pacify the protesters,” the DSP told the Indian Express.

Superintendent of Police (Sirmour) NS Negi, meanwhile, ordered a probe. Negi, who was camping in Paonta Sahib, also appealed for peace and assured the protesters that the criminals would be nabbed soon.

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