Lucknow, Jan 1 (IANS): Days after one of the prime accused who shot to death Bulandshahr cop Subodh Kumar Singh was arrested, police on Tuesday arrested another key suspect who reportedly hit Singh with an axe on his head.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Prabhakar Chowdhary said accused Kalua was arrested from a far-flung village of Bulandshahr after the police received information about his presence there. Police said Singh was first attacked by Kalua and later shot by Prashant Natt.

Trouble in Bulandshahr started when carcasses of cows were found dumped in a forest area outside Mahaw village. "Activists of right-wing organisations soon gathered at the spot and alleged that people of a community were indulging in cow slaughter," ADG (Law and Order) said.

Angry villagers and members of various Hindu groups brought the animal remains in a tractor-trolley to the Chingarwathi Police Chowki and demanded action against the culprits. They raised slogans against the police administration and blocked the Bulandshahr-Garh State Highway.

Bulandshahr District Magistrate Anuj Kumar Jha, Sub-divisional Magistrate Avinash Kumar Maurya and other senior officials tried to reason with the protesters but they refused to budge. The protesters soon turned violent, pelting stones on policemen and indulging in arson.