Rumours over dead calf trigger tension in Shyam Nagar, police deny foul play

Jaipur: Tension flared in Ashokpura Monday after locals claimed to have found the severed head of a calf inside a cattle shed, a claim police denied after investigating.The situation escalated after children playing nearby reported an allegedly "severed head of a calf" to their parents, who then alerted police.Shyam Nagar SHO Dalbeer Singh told TOI: "Satyanarayan Sharma, also known as Bunty, rears a few cows. A calf died a natural death two days ago and JMC took away the carcass to Hingoniya gaushala."He said the cow became restless after losing its calf. "Some neighbours advised Bunty to bring the calf's head and place it in front of the cow so that the cow would calm down. He brought the head of the dead calf from Hingoniya gaushala Sunday evening and kept it inside his cattle shed," the SHO said.Dalbeer Singh said police found no evidence to support claims that the head was hung at a public crossing.Local resident Ankit Kala said the incident took a political turn after gaurakshaks and BJP workers reached the spot. "The accused was detained and later released. He was brought back in a vehicle belonging to a gaurakshak group," Kala said.Congress leader Pratap Singh Khachariyawas targeted the BJP govt over the incident and threatened to protest outside the CM's residence if no action is taken in 24 hours. "Just 300 metres from the CM's residence, a cow was brutally killed, and the accused is linked to BJP. Yet no strict action has been taken," he said.The Jaipur Municipal Corporation (JMC) denied knowledge of the incident. JMC–II animal management officer Yogesh Sharma said, "No municipal team visited that area. If we had taken any action, no part of a dead animal could have been brought back from Hingoniya gaushala. We are also investigating the matter."Locals also alleged Satyanarayan was released "due to BJP influence" because his brother, Harish Kumar Sharma, is a former councillor from Ward 68 in Mansarovar.