Translations:Killing of Zahid Rasool Bhat/11/en
In the days before the attack, cow carcasses were found in Udhampur district, which led to tension in the area.[1] The district administration and the owner of the cattle later ruled out foul play and concluded that the animals had died natural deaths; according to AFP and PTI, forensic tests found that the cows had died of poisoning.[1][2] At the time a court had ordered strict enforcement of the state's law banning cow slaughter and beef sales, an order that another court later set aside.[2]