Mohammad Akhlaq was killed by a mob in Uttar Pradesh's Dadri over beef rumours.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's office was today briefed on the mob killing of a Muslim man in Uttar Pradesh last week over rumours that he had beef in his house.This is the first visible involvement of the Prime Minister's Office amid nationwide condemnation and a political war of words over the 10-day old incident.Sources say the home secretary informed the PM's office on the incident and the steps taken in its aftermath.The prime minister's silence on the Dadri killing has been questioned by opposition parties as well as prominent citizens.The mob killing in village Bishada in Dadri was allegedly incited by the son and relatives of a local BJP leader, Sanjay Rana. Seven of 10 accused are believed to be linked to Mr Rana.The ruling BJP has also been attacked for provocative comments by two of its leaders, including a union minister.The Congress has asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to break his "silence" and condemn the lynching incident.Today, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said "strongest possible action" will be taken against culprits "who try to break communal harmony in the country". Union minister Arun Jaitley has said such incidents "dont bring a good name to the country".At the Bisada village, the local police, who had been stationed since the incident on September 28, turned away Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Sadhvi Prachi this afternoon.There has been uproar from the civil society too, with writer Nayantara Sahgal and poet Ashok Vajpeyi returning their Sahitya Akademi award, protesting against what they called an assault on India's diversity."The Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) keeps quiet. He is an eloquent Prime Minister who addresses lakhs of people, but here writers are being murdered, innocent people are being killed, his ministers are making objectionable statements...Why doesn't he shut them up?" Mr Vajpeyi has told NDTV.