UP Woman Dies Of 'Panic Attack' As Police Raid Home On Suspicion Of Storing Beef

Razia, 55 allegedly died of panic attack after four policemen raided her home in search of beef sparking protests by local community.

A woman in Uttar Pradesh's Bijnor allegedly died of a panic attack after police raided her house on Monday afternoon on a tip-off that beef was stored in her home. The woman was identified as Razia (55) who was a resident of the Khatai village. 

Four constables who raided the premises were sent to the police lines, said Abhishek Jha, Superintendent of Police, Bijnor, reported the Indian Express. The police team conducted the raid on suspicion of violation of the anti-cow slaughter law in Uttar Pradesh, which prohibits cow slaughter, and the sale or transport of beef. 

A woman called UP-112, a police emergency service, reporting cow slaughter at Razia's house, Jha said, adding that no evidence of any cow being slaughtered was found at the house. 

Jha said an inquiry has been ordered and the role of the police informer will also be investigated. "Necessary legal action will be taken against the informer for providing biased information to the police, and against the police officers if our probe finds them guilty," said the police official. 

Razia's family alleged that four policemen stormed the house and behaved with a woman in a manner that terrified her, eventually leading to her death. 

"They ransacked the household articles while we pleaded that we had not stored anything banned in the state," said Naseem, the husband of the deceased. "My wife had a panic attack due to the police's behaviour. Shortly after the cops left, she collapsed. We rushed her to the local clinic, where the doctor pronounced her dead," he added, reported the Times of India. 

Naseem also said that his wife had long been battling a respiratory condition and was undergoing regular treatment in Dehradun. 

The four policemen involved in the raid were transferred to another station soon after the incident, which Jha said was a "routine measure". 

The incident sparked protests by the members of the local community who demanded stricter action against the police personnel. Nagina Samajwadi Party MLA Manoj Kumar Paras led a delegation of local leaders and Muslim clerics to the Superintendent of Police's office, calling for accountability and justice for the bereaved family.