A new forensic report claims meat recovered from murder victim Mohammed Akhlaq’s home was beef – but UP Police say it was taken from a garbage dump
Uttar Pradesh Police may not register a case against the family of Mohammed Akhlaq – who was lynched by a mob last year over rumours that he butchered a cow – despite a forensic report saying that meat recovered from the spot was beef.
The findings of a Mathura lab have whipped up a fresh political storm over the issue, which fuelled a fierce debate on freedom of choice and religious intolerance in India.
In several Indian states, including Uttar Pradesh, the killing of cows and selling of beef are either restricted or banned as the animal is revered by many Hindus.
However, local police said on Wednesday there is no evidence to suggest that Akhlaq’s family was responsible for cow slaughter.
“People might demand that a case should be registered. But as of now no criminal offence is made out as the beef was not found inside Akhlaq’s house,” said a senior officer.
“It was dumped in garbage nearby.”
The 52-year-old resident of Bisada village in Dadri area on the outskirts of Delhi was beaten to death in September by an angry mob that suspected he had slaughtered a calf and eaten its meat.
While there were reports that the meat which was tested was found in Akhlaq’s fridge, investigators are convinced that it was recovered from a garbage dump and do not rule out a “larger conspiracy”.
A preliminary enquiry by the state’s veterinary department had said it was goat meat.
“If at all an FIR is registered it will be against unknown people. It’s not known who was involved in the cow slaughter. All aspects need to be looked at,” the police officer added.
After the fresh forensic report surfaced this week, dominoqq relatives of those arrested for allegedly killing Akhlaq have been demanding that an FIR be registered against his family and the compensation given by the state government be withdrawn.
Relatives of the Dadri men who were arrested for Mohammad Akhlaq’s murder
The case has led to a political slugfest with BJP leaders from Uttar Pradesh targeting the ruling Samajwadi Party as chief minister Akhilesh Yadav questioned the authenticity of the forensic report.
State director general of Police Javed Ahmed told Mail Today that the matter is in court and people should not jump to any conclusions.
“The meat found is tested as beef but whether it was found in Akhlaq’s house has still not been established,” he said.
With political parties jumping in and the sensitive subject getting a communal colour, police are keeping a close eye on the developments.
With UP headed for crucial assembly polls next year, firebrand BJP MP Yogi Adityanath hit out at the SP for questioning the report, alleging that the ruling party only wants votes and demanding registration of a cow-slaughter case against Akhlaq’s family.
The chief minister said nothing objectionable was found at Akhlaq’s house.
“Every eye is on this matter. Everyone wants that the victim’s family should get justice as a murder took place,” he said.
Since the Dadri lynching incident, the village has been a hyper-sensitive zone with round-the-clock police patrolling
Akhilesh questions forensic report
By Rajat Rai in Lucknow
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav believes there was “nothing objectionable” in Mohammad Akhlaq’s home
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday questioned the authenticity of the fresh report, which stated that the meat found at the spot where Dadri resident Mohammad Akhlaq was lynched was of “cow or its progeny”.
“Where was the sample sent, who received it? There was nothing objectionable in his house. Every eye is on this matter. Everyone wants that the victim’s family should get justice as murder had taken place. After this incident, there was debate in the world regarding what to eat and speak. I think one should not get involved in such matters,” Yadav told reporters in Ambedkar Nagar district.
“One should not be concerned about what a person eats or drinks and which language he or she uses. I think one should keep away from such controversies,” Akhilesh advised.
His remarks came after a report prepared by a forensic lab in Mathura concluded that the meat found was beef.
The finding was in contrast to the preliminary report of an inquiry by the Uttar Pradesh veterinary department which said the meat over which Mohammad Akhlaq, 52, was lynched on September 28 last in Dadri was mutton or “goat progeny”.
However, BJP MP Adityanath said the report has put the UP government, opposition parties at the Centre, and a section of media in the dock.
“They are mum on this report. The innocent Hindus arrested in the matter should immediately be released and a case of cow slaughter should be registered against Akhlaq’s family,” he said in Gorakhpur.
“I also demand that the state government should withdraw all facilities given to his (Akhlaq’s) family,” he said.
The report by the Forensic laboratory of the Uttar Pradesh University of Veterinary Services (Animal Husbandry) examined the sample of meat recovered from the spot in Dadri.
It was stated that on the basis of chemical analysis the forensic investigation of the sample showed that it belonged to cow or its progeny.
The report was sent to the Noida police and submitted to a fast-track court in a sealed cover, an official said.
(With agency inputs)
Victim’s family should lose government perks, locals claim
By Shashank Shekhar in Bisada
There’s an uneasy calm in Bisada village after a fresh forensic report said the meat recovered from the site of Mohammad Akhlaq’s murder was beef.
When the Mail Today team visited the village, the uneasiness was evident.
Everywhere the team went, various sets of eyes followed.
Fifty-two-year-old Mohammed Akhlaq was lynched by an unruly mob on September 28, 2015, in Dadri over rumours that his family stored and ate beef.
Locals in Bisada village admit that relations between Hindus and Muslims are not as harmonious as they were before the infamous lynching
Demanding the withdrawal of compensation given by the Uttar Pradesh government to Mohammed Akhlaq’s family, the families of the 18 arrested on the charge of lynching are planning to file a formal complaint with the police.
Since the last September incident, the village has been declared as a hyper-sensitive zone and when the Mail Today team visited the village a huge number of police deployments were seen on the ground.
Villagers are reluctant to talk to mediapersons and were also seen questioning the credibility of the coverage.
“I don’t want to discuss what happened that night. We condemn both slaughter of cow and Akhlaq’s murder. But, government’s investigation was one-sided. Some innocents were even picked up by the cops,” said a Muslim barber near the primary school.
He added that no violence or discrimination took place after the lynching incident, but stated that relations between the Hindus and Muslims in the village are not harmonious as before.
Now, the families of the accused, who are in jail for Akhlaq’s murder, claim to be the real victims.
“This is not the first time that we are demanding an investigation and action behind cow slaughter. I have written to Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, the DGP and DM and SSP of the district – but no one has responded.
“It was only after Mathura’s forensic lab report that authenticated that the meat found at Akhlaq’s residence was beef, we are demanding action against his family,” said Sanjay Rana, a villager whose 22-year-old son, Vishal, has been in jail for the past eight months.
Locals said that they trusted the judiciary and would continue fighting constitutionally. They threatened to take out a mass protest, after seeking support from their community members residing in nearby villages, if the state machinery tries to suppress the matter.
Rajpal Singh, whose son Arun was held in the case, said: “This incident has not only affected our village but has also hurt the sentiments of our community members residing elsewhere.
We have received several calls expressing grief and confirming support to our fight to ensure justice for our children.”
“Bisada is a peaceful village, the only family to leave this village was Akhlaq’s.
But things have changed. Earlier, Hindus used to give us loans and accompany us in religious functions but now they avoid us,” said a Muslim labourer.
However, Akhlaq’s family maintains that it has not seen the forensic report yet.
Terming the report a political conspiracy, Akhlaq’s brother, Jaan Mohammad, who works with a private company, said: “No police officer collected the meat sample from our house.
The sample was collected from the road.”
