Tension in Churu after violence over cow slaughter

JAIPUR: Churu remained tense a day after over two dozen shops and some vehicles were set ablaze over the alleged incident of cow slaughter. The markets remained closed and the administration slapped section 144 of CrPC banning gathering of five or more people. The schools were also closed on the district collector's directions. The police arrested nearly 20 people on charges of rioting and two for cow slaughter.
On Thursday evening, the reports that the carcass of a calf was buried under the ground spread like wildfire. People in Om Colony informed the police about foul smell emanating out of a house in the colony. The carcass was recovered. People took the carcass to a veterinary hospital where they started shouting slogans.
They then took out a rally and forced shopkeepers to close the markets on the way. They then reached Gath Chauraha and torched carts and shops. They pelted stones at a train on its way to Hisar from Bikaner. The police resorted to lathicharge to disperse the crowd. People hurled stones at the policemen also. Some youths set a truck and a bus ablaze. The arson that started at 8.30pm continued till midnight.
No major untoward incident was reported in the town on Friday, however, markets remained closed. "The meetings of the local peace committees were held to bring peace and harmony. The situation is under control; however, we have deployed heavy police force in the town to maintain law and order," said a police officer.