Bahraich: Two girls were on March 13 charred to death and 12 others critically injured when a mob set ablaze several houses belonging to members of a particular community following rumours of cow slaughter in a village in Shravasti district of Uttar Pradesh.

Additional District Magistrate J B Singh said members of a particular community on March 12 night killed a 'neelgai' (Indian bison) on the banks of Rapti river in Katramafi Barga village.

However, a rumour spread that a cow had been slaughtered and hundreds of people surrounded the village this morning and set ablaze houses of members of a particular community, he said.

Two girls were charred to death and 12 others injured in the arson, Singh said.

Security personnel were deployed in strength in the area to bring the situation under control and six persons were taken into custody, he said.

Senior civil and police officials were camping in the village where the situation now was tense but under control, the official said.

PTI