5 MORE HELD IN DADRI LYNCHING CASE, CHARGE SHEET BY DEC 26
Five more persons were arrested from Bisada village on Monday for their alleged involvement in the lynching of a Muslim man over cow slaughter rumour, police said, an incident that had sparked nationwide outrage amid allegations of rising intolerance.
A mob had lynched 55-yearold Mohammad Ikhlaq and seriously injured his son Danish on September 28 in the Uttar Pradesh village over rumours that they had slaughtered a cow.
Nine people were arrested and a juvenile apprehended earlier in connection with the case, taking the total number of people in custody to 15.
Police said on the arrests were made on the basis of deposition made by Ikhlaq’s daughter Shaista before the additional chief judicial magistrate-II, Gautam Budh Nagar on November 26.
“Four persons are yet to be arrested in the case. All of them were charged for murder. They were produced in the court and were sent to jail. Their names have been added in the FIR,” said Anurag Singh, circle officer, Dadri, Greater Noida
In her statement to the magistrate, Ikhlaq’s daughter Shaista had named nine persons from the village who were allegedly involved in the incident.
“The rest of the accused will be arrested soon. We are going to file a charge sheet before December 26 in this case,” said Singh.
The Dadri incident had led to stinging criticism of the BJPled government at the Centre for allegedly failing to rein in fringe groups which were targeting dissenting voices and freedom of personal choice.
The lynching was also followed by a host of prominent historians, litterateurs, scientists and filmmakers returning different awards as a mark of protest against “growing intolerance” in the country which they say has become the hallmark of the BJP-led government.