By IANS,
Kanpur : A large number of cattle perished while some people sustained injuries after their shacks on a disputed land near this Uttar Pradesh city were set on fire by a gang, police said here Saturday.
The land at a prime location in Bithoor, on the outskirts of Kanpur, was being eyed by land grabbers for a long time and they attacked the villagers late Friday to get hold of it, Kanpur Deputy Inspector General of Police Amitabh Yash said.
A police complaint has been registered against 14 people, Yash told IANS.
However, residents accuse local police officials of being hand in gloves with attackers. When a police team reached after the arson attack, people started pelting stones at it, injuring an official.
Earlier, the issue of land ownership was raised at the local panchayat and police were informed of the dispute, but it remained unresolved.
The local police station chief has been suspended, while the circle officer of the area has been transferred, Yash said.