Ghaziabad: Tensions flared late Tuesday night near Amrala village near Uttar Pradesh's Ghaziabad on the Bhojpur-Pilkhuwa Road after a truck allegedly transporting banned meat was intercepted by Hindu organisation workers and local villagers. The incident escalated quickly as the enraged mob vandalised the vehicle, thrashed the driver and cleaner, and eventually set the truck on fire, sparking major law and order concerns. Visuals of the chaos have surfaced on the internet.
According to an Amar Ujala report, the chaos began around 9 pm after members of Hindu Yuva Vahini and Bajrang Dal, led by Neeraj Sharma and Madhur Nehra, received information about a truck suspected to be carrying cow meat entering from the Pilkhuwa side. Activists and villagers blocked the truck near Amrala village. Upon finding a large quantity of meat inside, the mob became violent. They accused the truck occupants of transporting cow meat and began assaulting the driver and cleaner.
Protesters Demanded Encounter Of Accused
Despite police intervention, including Bhojpur SHO Amit Sharma and a reinforcement team, the crowd remained defiant. Protesters demanded the immediate arrest and 'encounter' of the accused. As the situation worsened, additional forces from Modinagar and Niwadi police stations, along with ACP Gyanprakash Rai, were dispatched to the site.
Reports said that the mob vandalised the truck and attempted to set it ablaze. Though police initially managed to prevent the fire, the agitated crowd eventually succeeded in torching the vehicle. Firefighters later doused the flames, but not before major damage had been done. JCB machines were also deployed to help contain the blaze using mud and debris.
Sit-In Protest Staged, Bhojpur-Pilkhuwa Road Blocked
The protesters staged a sit-in on the Bhojpur-Pilkhuwa Road, blocking traffic for nearly two hours. Multiple attempts by police to clear the roadblock failed as the crowd refused to relent. The blockade caused major disruptions, leading to long traffic jams and distress for commuters and local residents.
Veterinary officials reportedly collected meat samples from the truck and sent them for forensic analysis to determine whether the meat belonged to a banned animal. Police have stated that no formal complaints have been filed by any party yet, but an in-depth investigation is underway.
