Man lynched over cow slaughter rumour; UP govt announces Rs 10L relief

NEW DELHI: The UP government on Wednesday announced Rs 10 lakh compensation for the family of a 58-year-old man who was allegedly beaten to death and his son injured by a mob following rumours that their family was involved in the slaughter of a cow.

UP chief minister Akhilesh Yadav has announced an ex-gratia compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the family of the victim.

He also instructed the district magistrate and senior superintendent of police, Noida to provide full protection to the family of the victim.

Massive security has been deployed in the village following tension in the area.

The man was killed by a mob in Greater Noida’s Bisada village on Monday night following rumours of cow slaughter in his house. As tension gripped the village and spread to nearby areas, another mob went on the rampage on Tuesday morning in Ooncha Amirpur – barely 5km from Bisada – demanding death penalty for those involved in cow slaughter. The mob clashed with the police after six people were arrested for the murder.

There were also reports that trouble started on rumours that the victim had consumed beef. But there was no confirmation.

Kiran S, SSP, Gautam Budh Nagar, earlier, said, “Around 800 armed forces, including a battalion of Provincial Armed Constabulary and police from Ghaziabad, Bulandshahr and Hapur, have been deployed in the village and the areas around it.”

Family members of Iqlakh, the murdered Bisada villager, denied slaughtering any cow in their small house and claimed the story was cooked up to target them. They also claimed neither the cops reached on time nor their neighbours came to their rescue. Iqlakh lived there with his 70-year-old mother Asgari, 52-year-old wife Ikraman, younger son Danish (21) and daughter Sahista (16). His elder son Sartaz works with the Indian Air Force and is currently posted in Chennai. Danish suffered serious injuries in the attack.

“Hundreds of people gathered in front of our house on Monday night and started abusing us,” Asgari told TOI. “A heated argument followed for 10 minutes after which the agitators turned violent and broke open the main gate. They misbehaved with my daughter-in-law and grand-daughter. They did not even spare me. I had locked myself in the washroom but they broke open the washroom door and thrashed me.”

Asgari added, “The attack continued for nearly half an hour, but no one came to our rescue. They brutally thrashed my son and grandson. They, then dragged my son’s body to the road and fled after dumping it there.”

SP (rural) Sanjay Singh said Iqlakh’s body has been handed over to his family after an autopsy, the report of which suggested that he died due to severe blood loss and haemmorage. He also said an FIR had been filed against 10 people, six of whom were nabbed and put behind bars. They have been identified as Rupender, Vivek, Sree Om, Sandeep, Saurabh and Gaurav, all in their late 20s.

“All accused are from Bisada,” Singh said. “They have confessed. We recovered some meat from their possession. The accused claimed it was beef that they recovered from the deceased’s home. It has come to our knowledge that the mob held a meeting in a temple in the middle of the village, where they decided to teach the deceased a lesson for slaughtering cows. The mob then rushed to the victim’s home and attacked the family,” he added.

BJP district president Thakur Harish Singh blamed the police for the incident. “The police did not react on time. The locals gave samples of meat to cops but they did not take it seriously. Then some people got agitated. We urge people to restore peace,” he said.

A man named Rahul Yadav reportedly sustained a bullet injury on his left hip during Tuesday’s clash in Ooncha Amirpur. Yadav is being treated in a private hospital. A magisterial probe has been ordered into the clash.

Gautam Budh Nagar’s district magistrate N P Singh announced financial assistance of Rs 50,000 for the treatment of Danish. “We have also recommended financial help for the family. We have formed peace committees to restore amity in the area. Senior administration officials are coordinating with the peace committees,” he said.