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Hapur Lynching: UP Police Forced To Apologise After Photo Of Villagers Dragging Victim's Body In Presence Of Cops Went Viral

"We are sorry for the Hapur Incident."
Twitter/UP Police

After a photograph of the lynching in Hapur, that showed villagers dragging the injured in the presence of three policemen, went viral, the Uttar Pradesh police put out a statement of apology and have said that an inquiry has been ordered.

Earlier this week, Qasim, a cattle trader, was beaten to death and another man Shamiuddin was severely beaten up by a mob on rumours of cow slaughter.

The photograph of Qasim being dragged by villagers went viral on social media and was harshly criticised.

In a tweet, the Uttar Pradesh police have claimed that the police had just reached the spot and the victim was "unfortunately carried this way" because of the unavailability of an ambulance.

The statement also said, "We are sorry for the Hapur Incident. Law and order incidents often lead to unintended yet undesirable acts."

The Indian Express reports that the three policemen, present on the spot, have been identified as SHO Ashwini Kumar and constables Kanhaiya Lal and Ashok Kumar.

Meanwhile, Hindustan Times reported that superintendent of police of Hapur, Sankalp Sharma, had denied the allegations against the police and maintained even after the apology that the photo was taken after the incident and Qasim was being carried to an ambulance.

A case has been registered against the mob that attacked the two men in Hapur's Pilakhuwa, but the police have not mentioned anything about cow slaughter.

In an earlier report, Hindustan Times said that the police denied the cow slaughter angle and said it was because of road rage.

"There were rumours of cow slaughter, but we did not find any cow or weapon used for slaughtering animals with the two victims," Sharma had told the newspaper.

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