Lucknow, May 16 (IANS) A mob lynched a man in an Uttar Pradesh village Friday on suspicion that he was transporting cow meat on his motorcycle, a police officer said. The incident occurred in Peesia village in Sant Kabir Nagar district, Superintendent of Police Sugreev Giri told IANS. He identified the man who was killed as Nabi Hasan.

“Nabi Hasan was carrying around 80 kg of meat on his motorcycle. He lost control of the bike and the meat got scattered on the road. On seeing the meat, onlookers got angry and started beating Hasan,” Giri said.

He said the police rushed Hasan to a hospital where he was pronounced dead. Cow slaughter is banned in the state in deference to Hindu religious sentiments.