Greater Noida: Villagers of Bisahada village in Dadri district of poll-bound Uttar Pradesh defied prohibitory orders and held a Panchayat at the village temple to take stock of the situation in wake of the new forensic report and plan their future course of action.
At the Panchayat held today, reportedly led by leaders of the BJP and Shiv Sena, the villagers sought action against the family of Mohammed Akhlaq, who was allegedly lynched by an angry mob on September 28 last year, after accusations that the family consumed and stored beef at their home.
While regretting the killing of Akhlaq as unfortunate and as an incident that should not have happened, the Panchayat, which included BJP leader Sanjay Rana whose son is in prison on charges of Akhlaq’s killing, observed that what has followed Akhlaq’s death is equally unacceptable.
Village residents rue that following Akhlaq’s killing, individuals ranging across all age groups are being subjected to torture at the hands of the police and the administration. They contend that while the killing was unfortunate, cow-slaughterers should also be booked as per law.
Also read: ‘Akhlaq couldn't have eaten the full cow alone, time to track others’: BJP’s Sanjeev Balyan
A report by a Mathura-based forensic report last week said that the samples it received from Akhlaq’s residence were that of a “cow or its progeny”. This was contrary to an earlier lab report that said the meat was that of a goat.
The villagers have now demanded action against Akhlaq’s family on charges of cow-slaughter. They have ruled out the need for a Mahapanchayat for now, saying they are peace-loving people. However, in a stern warning for the state government, the Panchayat demanded that Akhlaq’s family must be booked for cow-slaughter within 20 days, failing which public anger may get uncontrollable even for the administration.
The matter, which has already caused unrest, could further fuel oout of hand given the looming elections. No surprise then that the political undertone in the entire episode has been hard to miss. The past few days have seen several leaders jump into the debate once again, drawing allegations from rival parties of trying to polarise voters on the basis of religion.
The comments too have been no less sparing. Following remarks by Sangeet Som and Yogi Adityanath, the latest to jump into the fray was Union minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Sanjeev Balyan.
At a Janta Darbar held at his home in Muzaffarnagar on Saturday, Balyan stoked controversy saying “Akhlaq couldn't have eaten the full cow all alone” and that justice must be met to the other side as well.
"Akhlaq couldn't have eaten the full cow all alone. The meat would have gone to 20 families there. It's time to track them down and ensure justice is done to the other side," Balyan was quoted as saying by the Economic Times.
Residents of Bisahada village met the Gautam Budha Nagar SSP Dharmendra Yadav yesterday to press their demand for registration of an FIR against Akhlaq's family.
After the meeting with Yadav, Sanjay Rana, father of Vishal Rana, an accused in the 2015 lynching case threatened that a Mahapanchayat would be held in the village on Monday as police have failed to register an FIR against Akhlaq's family.
Also read: ‘Jail them, revoke compensation’: BJP leaders demand action against Akhlaq’s family
"A complaint was filed with police after the forensic report said the meat in the freezer at Akhlaq's house was beef. No FIR has been filed yet in this regard," he said.
Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav had earlier this week questioned the authenticity of the forensic report and said "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."
VHP leader Surindera Jain had earlier visited the village and claimed that the accused had been falsely implicated. VHP activists had also staged a protest at the Collectorate demanding that the FIR be registered against Akhlaq's family and the financial help given to them be withdrawn.
Local MP and Union Minister Mahesh Sharma on June 5 attacked Akhilesh Yadav for questioning the authenticity of the forensic report that said the meat found from Mohammad Akhlaq’s house was of “cow or its progeny”, saying if he does not believe his officers, then he should resign.
(With agencies)
