Dadri residents defy prohibitory orders, hold protest meeting

Lucknow, June 6: Nearly nine months after the Dadri lynching, the situation in Bishada village became tense again on Monday as locals held a protest meeting ignoring prohibitory orders demanding that an FIR be registered against the victim's family for alleged cow slaughter. [Dadri lynching: Section 144 imposed in Bisahada village ahead of 'mahapanchayat']

The demand was sparked after a forensic report stated that the meat found at the scene of the attack on Mohammad Akhlaq on the night of September 28 following rumours that his family stored and ate beef at their house was that of "cow or its progeny." However, clarity on from where exactly the meat was recovered is yet to emerge.

The villagers had originally planned to have a mahapanchayat to push for registration of the FIR against Akhlaq's family. The protest meeting was also attended by some local level Shiv Sena members, according to the organisers.

Gautam Budh Nagar District Magistrate (DM) N.P. Singh clamped Section 144 CrPC and issued prohibitory orders banning gathering of five or more people in the district after Bishada villagers in Dadri announced mahapanchayat for today and additional security personnel were deployed in the village, officials said.

"Situation is under control," Mr. Singh said, adding that he has appealed to the residents not to resort to violence.

Political leaders should not politicise the matter since it is subjudice. "Let the case proceed in court. They can put their views or evidence before the court. Nobody will be allowed to disturb law and order."

Sanjay Rana, father of accused Vishal Rana, had threatened that a mahapanchayat will be held in the village as the police have failed to register an FIR against Akhlaq's family.

"A complaint was filed with police after the forensic report said the meat in the freezer at Akhlaq's house was beef. No FIR has been filed yet in this regard," he said.

The report submitted to the fast-track court was prepared by a Mathura-based Forensic lab and it surfaced last week.

The veterinary officer in his preliminary report, cited by the police earlier, had said that the meat sample was not beef, but meat of "goat progeny."

Prohibitory orders have been clamped and security stepped up in Bishada village in the wake of a proposed mahapanchyat today over demand for registration of an FIR against Mohammad Akhlaq's family for alleged cow slaughter nine months after he was lynched over rumour that his family had eaten beef.

District Magistrate of Gautam Budh Nagar NP Singh has clamped Section 144 CrPC and issued prohibitory orders banning gathering of five or more persons in the district after Bishada villagers in Dadri announced panchayat for today and additional security personnel have been deployed in the village, officials said.

Residents of Bishada village, include kin of the accused in the September 2015 Akhlaq lynching case, yesterday met the Gautam Budh Nagar SSP to press their demand for registration of an FIR against Akhlaq's family after a forensic report stated that the meat found in his house was that of "cow or its progeny".

Sanjay Rana, father of accused Vishal Rana, had threatened that a maha panchayat will be held in the village as police have failed to register an FIR against Akhlaq's family.

"A complaint was filed with police after the forensic report said the meat in the freezer at Akhlaq's house was beef. No FIR has been filed yet in this regard," he said.

"The villagers have decided to hold a maha panchayat as police have failed to register an FIR based on our complaint. Residents of Satha Chaurasi village will also attend it," he claimed.

VHP leader Surindera Jain had yesterday visited the village and claimed that the accused had been falsely implicated.

Meanwhile, BJP leader Vinay Katiyar supported the demand for registration of FIR against Akhlaq's family members and demanded that the compensation given to them be withdrawn.

"The question is that cow slaughter had taken place. The report has come and now FIR should be lodged against those involved in cow slaughter. Those who have been locked up in jail should be released. The compensation should be withdrawn. Government should take back the three houses given to them," the BJP leader said.

The Congress, meanwhile, criticised the statements of BJP leaders, saying it will vitiate the atmosphere.

"Calling for mahapanchayat and the statements being made after the forensic report came are not proper. Whether it is the Centre or the state government, it should be stopped," P L Punia said.

PTI