Akhlaq, six family members booked for cow slaughter

Police on Friday lodged an FIR against deceased Mohammad Akhlaq and six family members for alleged cow slaughter.

Police on Friday lodged an FIR against deceased Mohammad Akhlaq and six family members for alleged cow slaughter.

The family of one of the accused in the Dadri lynching case had approached police to register a case of cow slaughter against deceased Mohammad Akhlaq and his family. (HT File Photo)

“As per court order, FIR for cow slaughtering was lodged against deceased Akhlaq and six family members,” Jarcha police station station house officer Pradeep Kumar said.

He said charge-sheet will be filed within stipulated period, without elaborating further.

Sanjay Rana, the father of one of the accused, said, “We are happy that at least [an] FIR was registered. Investigation will nail the accused.”

Akhlaq’s family has decided to challenge the FIR in the high court, seeking directions for its quashing. “We will move high court,” Jaan Mohammad, brother of Akhlaq, said.

Akhlaq was killed by a mob on September 29 last year on the suspicion that his family stored and consumed beef at their home.

A forensic lab is reported to have said that the meat found in Akhlaq’s home was beef.

Residents of Bisada village in Dadri had met the Gautam Budh Nagar senior superintendent of police on June 5 to press their demand for registration of an FIR against Akhlaq’s family for alleged cow slaughter, following which he had ordered a probe into the charge.

On Thursday, a judicial magistrate court ordered investigation and lodging of FIR of cow slaughter against Akhlaq’s family.

Read | Dadri lynching: 6 months on, memories linger but no Muslims left village

Read | Dadri lynching: Bishada residents meet SSP for FIR against Akhlaq’s kin