Dadri lynching: 2 youths ‘forced’ priest to make beef announcement

The youths had forced the temple priest to make the announcement, police said, adding that it triggered the attack.

Police probing the Dadri lynching said on Thursday that the “trigger” behind the grisly incident was the announcement by a local temple that beef was being consumed by the victim’s family. They added the priest and two youths were the “major links” in the case.

Relatives of Mohammad Akhlaq mourn after he was killed by a mob on Monday night at his residence in Dadri town, in Uttar Pradesh.(REUTERS)

The youths had forced the temple priest to make the announcement, police said, adding that it triggered the attack.

The FIR lodged in this connection has no mention of beef. Police claimed that the cow slaughtering was just an allegation by the assailants.

“FIR has been lodged under IPC section 147 (Punishment for rioting), 148 (Rioting, armed with deadly weapon), 149 (unlawful assembly), 302(murder), 307 (Attempt to murder), 458(house-trespass or house-breaking), 504 ( Intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace),” an officer said.

Ten persons have been named as accused along with over a hundred unknown assailants. The FIR was lodged on the basis of a complaint lodged by the victim’s family. Seven of the accused were held on Wednesday.

“The priest and two youths who forced him to announce beef rumour are the major links. Further probe will reveal the exact sequence of events as to how it all happened,” superintendent of police (rural) Sanjay Singh said.

District magistrate NP Singh said that magisterial inquiry has been started.

Read: Neighbours didn’t help, says kin of man killed over beef rumour

“Situation in Bisrakh is under control and magisterial inquiry has been initiated and peace committees are also trying to maintain communal harmony,” the DM said.

Police have ruled out any personal enmity angle. “Initial probe has ruled out the possibility,” said the SP.

Meanwhile, the family of Mohammad Ikhlaq, who was killed by the mob on the night of October 28, and 50 other families of the village were planning to move out of the village.

Additional district magistrate Rajesh Kumar met the victim’s family and other people of the community and assured them full protection.

“We will move out to our relatives in Delhi or states if situation here deteriorated,” said Raisuddin, one of the residents.

“My children grew up with Hindu neighbours and we were living in harmony for several decades. But on day of incident none of Hindu family neighbour came to our rescue,” said Asgari, mother of the deceased.

SSP Kiran S said,”District magistrate has already ordered an inquiry. Sample of meet recovered from victim’s house has been sent by chief veterinary officer to Mathura for forensic examination. Most of named accused have been arrested.

National Commission for minorities has sought report over the incident from the DM.

However, kin of the accused claimed that they were innocent and implicated by police.

“Police took my grandson Sandeep and a few other young people from Hindu families and claim they killed the man. I know them they can not even kill insect,” said Shanti Devi.

Meanwhile, local BJP leader Harish Thakur alleged that the Uttar Pradesh chief minister was “discriminating” on the basis of religion.

“Rs 10 lakh compensation was immediately announced on the death of Muslim while on death or injury to Hindu community members state government remains silent,” he said.

Read: ‘Violence after lynching in UP village a move to polarise voters’