Death of Dadri accused during custody sparks Bisada tension

BISADA (GREATER NOIDA): An Uttar Pradesh village where a Muslim man was lynched last year over suspicion of cow slaughter bristled with tension on Wednesday after

BISADA (GREATER NOIDA): An Uttar Pradesh village where a Muslim man was lynched last year over suspicion of cow slaughter bristled with tension on Wednesday after one of the accused died in judicial custody, sparking allegations of foul play by police.

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Abhishek Yadav, superintendent of police (rural), Gautam Budh Nagar, said a company of the provincial armed constabulary and 200 constables, besides senior officials, have been deployed at Bisada in Dadri.

The lynching of 55-year-old Mohammad Ikhlaq had sparked nationwide outrage a midst allegations that the B JP-led government at the Centre had failed to rein in fringe groups curbing freedom of personal choice.

Police said the accused, identified only by his first name Ravin, 22, died on Tuesday night at a Delhi hospital, apparently due to “kidney and lungs failure”.

Ravin was among 18 others who were arrested for allegedly lynching Ikhlaq and injuring his son Danish on September 28, 2015.

Villagers on Wednesday burnt effigies of CM Akhilesh Yadav and Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav and accused the police of a biased probe.

Villagers also demanded Rs 1 crore as compensation to his family and a government job for his wife.

The family of the deceased said that they will not perform his last rites till their demands are met.

ML Yadav, superintendent of the Greater Noida district jail, however, denied any foul play.

The National Human Rights Commission issued notices to the DGP and director general of prisons of UP and sought a response within four weeks.