Dadri lynching: FIR ordered against Akhlaq's family for cow slaughter

Greater Noida: In a new twist in the Dadri Akhlaq murder case, a court on Thursday ordered registration of a case against his family for alleged cow slaughter.

"Judicial Magistrate Vijay Kumar acting on application moved under 156(3) CrPC for registration of a case, has ordered investigation and lodging of an FIR of cow slaughter against Akhlaq's family," said D S R Tripathi, Senior Prosecution Officer.

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

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

SSP Dharmendra Yadav had said a case will be registered against the family only if the charge that the meat found in Akhlaq's home was beef was found to be true.

Read: Dadri lynching: Release arrested, withdraw ex-gratia to Akhlaq's kin, says BJP

A forensic lab is reported to have said that the meat found in Akhlaq's home was beef. "On October 8, 2015, we had sent the copy of the complaint to SSP, DIG and other senior officials requesting that an FIR be lodged for cow slaughter against Akhlaq's family. Then we had moved an application before the judicial magistrate's court under CrPC 156(3) for issuing directions to police to lodge the FIR," said advocate B R Sharma.

Sanjay Rana, the father of one of the accused, said, "The court has rightly ordered lodging of the FIR. The UP government was taking one-sided action. Now the court order has provided justice to other side too."

However, Jaan Mohammad, brother of Akhlaq, said the investigation should be fair. "Whatever decision the court has taken is to be respected. We respect the judiciary. We do not have any problem with investigation but the investigation should be fair," he said. Asked if the registration of a case was a setback to him, he said, "Yes, it is."

On June 23, the court had heard the petition seeking registration of an FIR against the family members of Mohammad Akhlaq, who was lynched last year on suspicion that his family stored and ate beef at their house.

The police had earlier filed its report in the court stating that 'no FIR' on charges of cow slaughter and animal cruelty had been lodged against Akhlaq's family.

The petitioner had urged the court to direct the police to register an FIR against Akhlaq's family members on charges of cow slaughter and animal cruelty.

The petition claims that on September 29 last year, two villagers from Bisada, Ranvir and Jatan, saw Akhlaq and his son Danish beat up a calf. Akhlaq allegedly told them that since the calf was attacking the people, he was going to tie up the animal at his brother Jaan Mohammed's house.

Read: Dadri case: New forensic report says meat found in Akhlaq's home was beef

The petition said another villager Prem Singh while passing by Akhlaq's house saw the latter holding the calf down while his brother Jaan Mohammad was slitting the animal's throat.

According to the petitioner, Akhlaq was on September 28 night stopped near Bada transformer by some residents, while others reached his house and found a vessel with remains of some animal and meat.

The petitioner claimed the mob got out of control and beat up Akhlaq and his son Danish. Akhlaq was beaten to death.

The petitioner had also cited forensic report by the Mathura forensic lab, which said the meat samples sent by the police was of an animal of the cow progeny.