Tensions eased in Uttar Pradesh’s Bisada with the village residents finally ending their protests over the death of the prime accused in the Dadri lynching case and reached a compromise.
It was after their meeting with senior officials of district administration and police that Rs 25 lakh compensation and a CBI probe in the matter was announced. Also, Ravin’s widow Pooja has been promised a private job.
Post the discussion, Ravin’s family members finally agreed to have him cremated.
However, police said that they cannot arrest Akhlaq's brother Jaan Mohammad without concrete evidence.
Earlier, a political one-upmanship surfaced with various leaders putting up their stand on the matter.
Bisada was on the boil once again after villagers refused to cremate the body of 22-year-old Ravin, who died at the Lok Nayak Jaiprakash Hospital in Delhi of kidney and respiratory failure, and declared him a martyr instead. They believe he did not die a natural death but was murdered while in judicial custody.
The villagers refused to cremate Ravin until the perpetrators of the crime are brought to justice. With the situation aggravating, several political leaders came to address gatherings.
Among them was Sadhvi Prachi who demanded justice for Ravi and that the rest of the 17 accused be shifted to another state.
"We will not tolerate such things. The government has to assure that the rest of the boys, who are behind bars, are safe. They should be transferred to a jail outside UP," she said. Sadhvi further said that nobody would be allowed to touch Ravi’s body unless the demands of the villagers are met.
Union minister and MP Mahesh Sharma also visited the Bisada village today and assured all help to the villagers.
Villagers draped his coffin in a tricolour, saying he had been martyred protecting "Hindu values". Tensions rose as the body reached the village, as villagers outrightly rejected Ravi's death report claiming he was murdered.
"Villagers demanded Rs 1 crore for deceased's family, arrest of Akhlaq's brother Jaan Mohammad in a cow slaughter case and an FIR against the jailer. Villagers told administration that they will not cremate the body till their demands are met," said Sanjay Rana, BJP leader and father of one of the accused.
Meanwhile, there have been several complaints against the use of national flag on Ravi’s coffin.
A mob had lynched 52-year-old Mohammad Akhlaq and injured his son Danish after dragging them out of their home in Bishada village on September 28, 2015, following rumours that they had slaughtered a cow and consumed beef.
A total of 19 persons were accused in the case.
