UP: Following a public uproar over the purported discovery of prohibited meat in the Kanpur district of Uttar Pradesh, four police officials were suspended on Tuesday.

Joint Commissioner of Police Ashutosh Kumar told IANS that a video of the event had gone viral and caused public indignation.

“Banned flesh and bones were purportedly discovered in a video that went viral. The people were quite angry as a result. Senior police officers, however, arrived on the scene quickly and managed to contain the situation, he claimed.

Members of other Hindu organizations gathered at the location and shouted slogans, he said.

Senior officers handled the situation well in spite of the tension. Action has been taken once FIRs were filed. A godown is located there, and a complaint has been filed against persons connected to it, Kumar told IANS.

Security troops were stationed there to keep the calm.

Two persons have been taken into custody thus far, and further inquiries are being conducted. It does not seem to be an instance of animal killing based on first results. Bones and flesh were apparently being gathered. The site has also been determined to have a significant amount of chemicals and salts, he said.

Four police officers have been suspended for carelessness and neglect of duty, Kumar said.

“So far, we have suspended four police officers for their careless handling of the situation. To identify everyone implicated, further investigations are being carried out,” he said.

The Joint Commissioner gave an update on the situation, stating that the region is presently at peace.

Some people broke the glass panes of a couple parked cars during the demonstration. No injuries have been reported, however. “The prohibited items are no longer available on the website,” he said.

He went on to say that the police are working tirelessly to maintain law and order and stop things from becoming worse.

Police placed a big force in the neighborhood and was on high alert as the situation worsened earlier. The outpost in-charge, two additional police officers, and the Station House Officer (SHO) were suspended due to evidence of carelessness. To keep the calm, more police officers have been sent in, along with the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC). The government has said that the issue is being constantly watched and urged the populace to maintain their composure.