
Mohammad Ikhlaq was brutally murdered by members of his own village because of a rumour he had killed a cow and had beef in his house

For years, Mohammad Ikhlaq and his family lived in peace; their small, semi-constructed house surrounded by a sea of Rajput houses.

It was no different for the handful of other Muslim families in Bisara, a Hindu-majority village, an hour’s drive from the national Capital, with no history of communal strife.

It all changed on Monday when an alleged public address by a mysterious priest, identified by locals as Swami Paramanand, led to mayhem. The 52-year-old diminutive Ikhlaq was battered to death merely on suspicion that he had slaughtered a cow and stacked beef in his house.

Only a day before the incident, villagers had wished Ikhlaq on Eid like every year, and things were peaceful. Locals said it was only three months ago that the priest was seen at the local Shiva temple. Most did not even know his name.

Ikhlaq’s was the only Muslim family living inside the village where nearly 10,000 Hindus also live; the remaining 25-30 Muslim families live on outskirts of the village.

“It was the priest who instigated the mob to attack Ikhlaq’s house,” said a wailing and distraught Asghari Begum, the murdered ironsmith’s mother.

Locals suspect the involvement of outsiders. An FIR has been filed against 10 people for attacking the family, six of whom have been arrested. The other four are still at large.

The district administration said it is investigating the role of outsiders.

“There has been no history of violence in the village and also there is no history-sheeter here,” said Rajesh Kumar, ADM, Gautam Budh Nagar district in western UP.

Pockets in western UP have, in recent times, faced cases of communal violence, increasingly seen as a tactic aimed at communal polarisation for long-term electoral gains.

The police have held Swami Paramanand for questioning. However, he has not been arrested formally as they said they are focusing on the perpetrators of the violence and not the man who allegedly triggered it.

Drowned in sorrow, the family recalled how the neighbourhood celebrated Eid with them only a day before, but in a moment of madness a few of them murdered the head of the family.

“The mob inserted a rod through his ears. They pierced his skull with a pointed object and smashed several bricks on his head. They dragged him to the streets and then we never saw him. There were several fractures on his legs when his body was returned to us after autopsy,” said Ikhlaq’s mother (70).

The deceased’s 22-year-old son, Danish, who was also beaten mercilessly by the mob, is battling for life at a Noida hospital.

Traumatised: Sahista, Mohammad's daughter, has been inconsolable since his murder. Her brother, who was also attacked, is in hospital with serious injuries.

Ikhlaq’s 46-year-old brother, Jaan Mohammad Saifi, said the different communities have observed festivals and family functions for generations. But on Monday, the mob had even robbed the ornaments that Ikhlaq’s wife had bought for the marriage of their daughter Sahista, he said.

The devastated family blame the tragedy on a handful of radical elements in the village who were misguided by ‘some political parties’.

“Nearly 200 men armed with rods stormed the house and attacked my father and brother. They attempted to rape me and my mother. We tried to lock ourselves inside but they broke open the door,” said Sahista, pointing towards the broken door.

“My father and brother Danish were bleeding profusely. We begged before our neighbours for help but nobody came forward,” she said.

Ikhlaq’s mother said the attack was so abrupt that the family had no time to escape.

“We thought our neighbours would come to our rescue but instead they accused us of eating beef. They found meat in the fridge and killed my son. They were instructed by the priest who made an announcement on the temple’s loudspeaker,” Asghari said, adding that they could hear inflammatory words but could not ascertain if they was meant for her family.

“We had no enmity with anyone. We lived peacefully. We were like one big family,” the ailing woman said as she picked up the blood-soaked clothes of Danish and Ikhlaq that have been lying in the courtyard since Monday night.

“The attackers removed their clothes before dragging them out of the house,” she added.

Family members of the accused agreed that there was indeed a call for murder.

“My brother Gaurav had just returned from his office. There was some commotion near the local temple and he went out. He came back shortly and went to sleep. We could hear clear instructions on the loudspeaker to attack Ikhlaq’s family. Around 2am, police picked up my brothers Gaurav and Saurabh,” said Garima, the sister of the two accused.

Watchful: A posse of police has been deployed in Bisara village after the violence

Some locals and politicians still 'spewing venom'

By Rakesh Ranjan in Bisara village, Dadri (UP)

Unhelpful: BJP leader Nawab Singh Nagar said the family would be "held responsible" if it transpired they had eaten beef

Even after a brutal act of violence in Bisara, some locals and politicians continue to make controversial statements which may aggravate the violent situation.

On Wednesday, BJP leader and former UP minister Nawab Singh Nagar visited the area and condoled the incident, but also defended the accused.

Also, the sister of one of the accused justified the violence, saying that this would deter Muslims from consuming beef in future.

Nagar termed the killing unfortunate but maintained that Ikhlaq’s family would be held responsible for the violence if it was proved that the family had consumed beef.

“The incident is truly unfortunate, but if the allegation that the victim’s family consumed beef is true, only the family will be held responsible. People will certainly get furious if cow is slaughtered in their village,” Nagar said.

Nagar, who has been a three-time MLA from the area and enjoys influence in the region, sought to defend the accused, alleging that the real culprits are still at large.

“I have learnt that the boys caught are innocent and have been framed by the police. The real culprits are on the run,” he claimed.

The police have arrested six youths from the village while four others have absconded.

Meanwhile, Vandana, the sister of an accused, Sandeep, appeared unrepentant as she termed the incident a ‘lesson’ for the minority community.

“People have seen cow meat inside his (Ikhlaq’s) house. His killing is unfortunate but this will ensure that nobody will eat beef in future,” Vandana claimed, adding that her brother was wrongly booked in the case.

“There was an announcement from the temple following which the mob got frenzied. My brother was not involved in the killing,” she alleged.

As the incident provoked outrage, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted his anguish.

“One person killed on beef rumours. Am numbed after hearing that. What is happening to the society,” he tweeted.

Terming Ikhlaq’s killing painful, Union minister Mahesh Sharma said the incident occurred due to misunderstanding, and trashed suggestions that it was done to polarise the village ahead of panchayat polls.

Sharma, MoS for Tourism and BJP MP from Noida, said he was in touch with the police and has also organised a meeting between the two rival groups.

“It’s a painful incident. Both the so-called groups belong to same village and are living there for years together. Nobody should take law into their hand,” Sharma said.

CM Akhilesh says guilty will not be spared

By Piyush Srivastava in Lucknow

Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav said maintaining social harmony is his top priority

Two days after a man was lynched in Gautam Budh Nagar district over rumours that he ate beef, Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has said law and order and social harmony are his government’s priority, and added that he would do anything to stop the recurrence of such incidents.

“It is easy to be communal, but it is tough to be secular. However, in any situation, maintaining social harmony is our top priority,” he said.

The CM also announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh for the family of Mohammmad Ikhlaq and asked state Health Minister Ahmad Hasan to provide free treatment of all the injured.

“Those involved in spreading false rumours which led to the lynching of Ikhlaq wouldn’t be spared at any cost. The police would be held responsible for spread of any such rumour if the accused are not booked before the act,” Akhilesh said.

Meanwhile, UP Director General of Police (DGP) Jagmohan Yadav said: “Some senior police officers are camping in the area. We are reviewing the situation to maintain peace in the region.”

Ironically, west Uttar Pradesh has witnessed several similar incidents since March 2012, when the Akhilesh-led Samajwadi Party (SP) government took over. Over two dozen people have been killed in communal clashes since then. This is besides over 60 killings which took place in the August and September 2013 riots in Muzaffarnagar.

Observers hold that although the SP banks heavily on the votes of Muslims - the community which usually sufferers most in any such incident - Akhilesh always avoids any question related to the rise of communal clashes under his rule.

But Yati Narisnghanand Saraswati, Mahant of Dasna Devi temple, who has been spearheading a pro-Hindu and anti-Muslim campaign in west UP, said: “Whatever happened was the result of suppression of Hindus. Earlier, the Muslims used to suppress Hindus, but now the police are doing the same.”

NGT seeks Government views on cattle slaughter

By Mail Today in New Delhi

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Wednesday sought the government’s response regarding a lawyer’s plea seeking a nationwide ban on the slaughter of indigenous breeds of cattle.

The panel issued a notice to the agriculture ministry while seeking its reply by October 30, the next date of hearing.

“Issue notice to the respondent...List this case on October 30,” a bench headed by Justice UD Salvi said.

The direction came during the hearing of a petition filed by advocate and environment activist Ashwini Kumar, who approached the panel against the looming threat of extinction of indigenous cattle.

Kumar has sought directions to take necessary steps to ensure that indigenous breeds of cattle are not slaughtered.

Claiming a steep decline in the indigenous cow population, Kumar has contended that Indian cattle were being replaced by exotic and cross-bred cows imported from Europe, Australia and the US.