A mob set a truck on fire in Odisha’s Ganjam district on Sunday, after suspecting that it was carrying beef. The accused are believed to be activists of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal, reported the Hindustan Times.
The truck was going from West Bengal to Maharashtra when the driver lost control and it overturned near Golanthara village. The driver and his companions fled from the spot after the vehicle fell into a pond near NH-16.
The police reached the spot and tried to take the truck out of the water with a crane. In the process, a packet fell out of the vehicle, and local residents alleged that it contained beef. The mob protested along the highway for more than 90 minutes and then set the vehicle on fire.
“We will examine the contents of the packet to ascertain whether it was beef,” said sub divisional police officer, Berhampur, Sadar Ashok Kumar Mohanty.
A probe is underway to identify the owner of the vehicle and to locate the driver and the others who fled the spot after the accident.
Under the Odisha Prevention of Cow Slaughter Act, 1960, cow slaughter is prohibited in the state.
The punishment includes imprisonment up to two years, or a fine up to Rs 1,000, or both.
