Dadri lynching accused cremated, UP govt hikes compensation to Rs 20L

Greater Noida, Oct 7: Ravi, accused in the Dadri lynching case, was today cremated at his native Bishada village here after local MP and Union minister Mahesh Sharma handed over a cheque of Rs 5 lakh to his family members and the Uttar Pradesh government announced increasing the compensation from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 20 lakh.

Ravi, an accused in the murder case of Mohammad Akhlaq, had fallen ill in prison. He was referred to a Delhi hospital with "suspected dengue symptoms".

He died at the hospital of kidney and respiratory failure on Wednesday. Ever since Ravi's death, villagers at Bishada had been staging protests, alleging "foul play" and demanding a compensation of Rs one crore to his family.

The protesters had also been demanding the arrest of Jaan Mohammad, brother of Akhlaq, for allegedly slaughtering a cow.

Sharma today paid a visit to the village and gave a cheque of Rs 5 lakh to Ravi's family. He also held talks with the family members of the deceased and the other protesting villagers.

The Uttar Pradesh government, which had earlier announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh for the family, today increased the amount to Rs 20 lakh and promised a job to one of the family members.

Yesterday, Ravi's body was handed over to the family members who had refused to cremate it, alleging that police torture had led to his death.

They had kept the body in the freezer and maintained vigil throughout the night to ensure that the police did not forcibly take it for cremation. A large police contingent was kept deployed in the village due to tension.

The National Human Rights Commission has issued a notice to the state government over Ravi's death. Akhlaq was dragged out of his house by a mob at Dadri last year and killed for allegedly storing and consuming beef.

PTI