Sad but true, no one killed Pehlu Khan, as 6 accused get clean chit

A report said six men accused of killing Pehlu Khan, a dairy farmer from Haryana, got clean chit by the Rajasthan police. Khan was killed by a mob in Rajasthan on April 1.

Jaipur, Sep 14: Why always justice eludes victims of mob lynchings? First it was Mohammad Akhlaq, who was killed by a mob on suspicion of storing beef at his home in Dadri, Uttar Pradesh, in 2015. Till now, his family is waiting for justice for the deceased.

Thereafter, came several cases of killings and beatings of people in the name of cow protection by gau rakshaks (cow vigilantes) across the country.

This year in April, once again a horrific incident of mob lynching rattled the nation. The victim was Pehlu Khan, a 55-year-old dairy farmer from Jaisinghpur village in Nuh tehsil of Mewat, Haryana, who was allegedly beaten to death by gau rakshaks on suspicion of cow smuggling in Behror area of Alwar, Rajasthan, on April 1.

Because of merciless beating, Khan died in a hospital. However, before his death he named six people as prime accused in the case. Moreover, the entire incident was captured on mobile phones, which clearly showed goons beating Khan black and blue.

Now, after more than five months of the brutal episode, the Rajasthan police have given clean chit to the six men accused by Khan as his murderers.

The police came to the decision based on statements of the staff of a cow shelter and mobile phone records, Hindustan Times reported.

The staff of the cow shelter said the six accused--Om Yadav (45), Hukum Chand Yadav (44), Sudhir Yadav (45), Jagmal Yadav (73), Naveen Sharma (48) and Rahul Saini (24)--were present at the Rath Gaushala at the time of the incident.

"Based on the findings of the investigating officer, it is recommended that the names of the six accused be removed from the case," the investigation report said.

The family of Khan alleged that there were efforts being made to let the accused go scot-free. "We were transporting the cattle with all the required permits, but the vigilantes threatened us then started assaulting us with belts, sticks, metal knuckle-caps. My father was punched in the eye and hit in stomach. He bled profusely, and, on April 3, he died at a hospital," said 19-year-old Arif, Pehlu Khan's son.

The opposition Congress had demanded a CBI probe into the matter. Several anti-BJP parties have alleged that the six men accused of killing Khan belonged to right-wing groups and thus the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government, both at the Centre and in the state, does not want to punish the culprits.

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