Dadri (UP): Recovery of the body of a young man on Tuesday stoked tension in Dadri’s Bishada village where a Muslim was recently bludgeoned to death over rumours of eating beef, as the UP government submitted its report to the federal government which has no mention of rumours of “beef consumption or cow slaughter” having triggered the killing.
Jay Prakash, 24, was found dead in his house at the village, about 60 km from the national capital, and his family alleged he was being harassed by the police despite his name not figuring in the list of absconders being hunted for the killing of Mohammad Aqlakh on September 28 night.
“There are visible signs on the deceased person’s body suggesting the cause and time of death. Investigation has been taken up but no conclusions can be drawn until the postmortem report is obtained,” said SI Ranvir Singh.
Jay Prakash lived with his mother Omvati, wife Guddi, and two brothers. His father Ram Avatar Singh passed away a few years ago. Their house is just a stone’s throw away from Aqlakh’s residence.
Prakash’s mother Omvati alleged police harassment and claimed her son was under immense pressure despite his name not being in the list of absconders.
Villagers claimed the police had been looking for Jay Prakash and his brothers for the past one week and his family was terrified because of that.
“Police are raiding houses in the village every day, leading to immense tension. They are harassing all, including people like Jay Prakash whose name was not present in the absconders’ list,” alleged Hari Ram Singh, a villager.
Police have confirmed Jay Prakash was not among the absconding accused.
The Uttar Pradesh government has, meanwhile, submitted a report to federal government on the lynching of 50-year-old Aqlakh but but made no categorical mention of “beef consumption or cow slaughter” rumours having triggered the killing.
The report sent to the Home Ministry said Aqlakh and his son Danish were attacked by some unidentified people over unconfirmed allegations of having consumed ‘meat of an animal banned from slaughter’.
The report incorporated a factual account of the incident as recorded in the FIR registered by the local police in Dadri in Gautam Budh Nagar district, a Home Ministry official said.
On the action taken following the incident, the report said some suspects have been picked up following preliminary investigation. Without going into details of the possible motive behind the killing, the report said further probe is on. The Home Ministry had on October 1 sought a report from the state government on the incident which has triggered an outrage.
Meanwhile, tempers continue to run high in the village where no outsiders or media are allowed.
After the locals, especially women, protested over a virtual parade by the media at the village since Aqlakh’s brutal killing, the local administration put up barricades and have kept journalists outside Bishada’s welcome arch. All vehicles entering the village are being searched for outsiders.
