Photo: IANS
Bareilly: A 36-year-old government doctor was allegedly dragged out of his SUV and assaulted by a group of people after his vehicle struck a stray cow on a road in Uttar Pradesh’s Badaun district. Police said four people have been arrested in connection with the incident.
The incident took place at around 2.30 pm on Tuesday near Bichpuri village under the Alapur police station limits. Dr Rahul Siddharth, a resident of Bareilly who is posted at the Community Health Centre in Usawan, was travelling towards Badaun when his SUV reportedly hit a cow standing on the road near Myaun, Hindustan Times reported.
Police said the animal fell near the vehicle following the collision, preventing Siddharth from immediately driving away. Villagers who witnessed the incident subsequently gathered around the SUV.
The situation allegedly turned violent after the crowd pulled the doctor out of the vehicle and assaulted him. According to accounts of the incident, Siddharth pleaded with the group to stop, but the assault reportedly continued, with his clothes also being torn.
The SUV was allegedly vandalised during the incident, with its windows smashed using bricks and sticks. Videos purportedly from the scene show a crowd surrounding the vehicle, while another video appears to show people attempting to overturn it.
Police personnel arrived after receiving information about the incident and rescued the doctor from the crowd. The damaged vehicle was later taken to the police station.
The injured cow was treated by a veterinary doctor and shifted to a cowshed but later died during treatment. Police said the animal was subsequently buried.
Badaun Superintendent of Police Ankita Sharma said four people had been arrested in connection with the assault. Alapur SHO Madhav Singh Bhist identified the accused as Shekhar, Dharmendra alias Netrapal, another person named Dharmendra, and Dharmpal, all residents of Bichpuri village.
Based on Siddharth’s complaint, an FIR was registered against seven named individuals and several unidentified persons. The case includes charges of attempted murder, rioting, mischief and intentional insult allegedly intended to provoke a breach of peace.
Police have also initiated preventive proceedings against the four arrested accused under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita.