Mathura: Rumours over sadhu's death spark violence; cops attacked, road blocked
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Mathura: Violence broke out in Uttar Pradesh’s Mathura on Saturday morning following rumours that a local sadhu had been killed while attempting to stop cow smugglers. Police later clarified that the death was the result of a road accident, but tensions escalated as a mob blocked the Mathura-Delhi highway, pelted stones at police personnel, and vandalised police vehicles.
The deceased was identified as Chandrashekhar, also known as Farsa Baba.
Senior Superintendent of Police Shlok Kumar refuted claims that a cow-smuggling vehicle had run him over. He said the incident occurred between 3 am and 4 am when Chandrashekhar stopped a truck suspecting it was involved in cow smuggling. The vehicle was found to be carrying grocery items. While he was speaking with the driver, another truck approaching from the opposite direction from Rajasthan struck him, leading to his death.
Police said the truck that hit the sadhu was loaded with wires from Kota in Rajasthan, and its driver was also injured in the accident.
Following the incident, locals gathered at the site and began pelting stones at police personnel when they attempted to disperse the crowd. In view of the escalating situation, heavy police deployment, including personnel from the Provincial Armed Constabulary and the Rapid Action Force, was rushed to the area.
Officials said police took a group of locals to inspect both trucks, showed them the goods being transported, and clarified that no cattle were being smuggled. The highway blockade was later cleared using force, and the mob was dispersed.
The violence occurred while President Droupadi Murmu was in Mathura, performing the ‘parikrama’ ritual at Govardhan Hill, located around 25 kilometres from the site. Senior police officials had been deployed for the President’s security at the time of the incident. Murmu has been on a visit to Mathura-Vrindavan since March 19.