National: Dadri, Uttar Pradesh: In another startling incident where a mob displayed radical behaviour, a lynch mob killed a man named Mohammad Akhlaq in a village near Delhi on Monday over rumours that he had killed a cow and eaten beef. An assortment of school-dropouts, graduates, a Laboratory Technician Student and job seekers (none with any crime record) are said to be part of the mob that killed the man. Seven of the accused are reportedly related to local BJP leader Sanjay Rana.
The main accused Vishal Rana aged 20 years is the son of Sanjay Rana. He allegedly organized the meeting in which the mob was incited to attack the family of Akhlaq. Vishal had allegedly stopped studying after class 12, reportedly because he was unwell, and now works at his brother-in-law’s advertising agency in South Delhi.
The two brothers Vivek aged 22 years and Sachin aged 20 years, are also related to Sanjay Rana. They help their father Om Kumar with his business of repairing electric appliances. Four more accused identified as Saurabh, Gaurav, Shivam and Sandeep are reportedly related to the BJP leader. Saurabh aged 21 years, and Gaurav aged 22 years, are brothers. Their father Dheeraj Singh is a contractor. Saurabh was looking for a job while Gaurav has completed graduation and recently has started studying law. Shivam aged 19 years is the son of a farmer and is in the second year of his Medical Lab Technology degree course.
Sandeep aged 18 years has just completed school. His father is an accountant at a brick kiln. Shri Om aged 20 years, and Hari Om aged 23 years also brothers are said to be working in a private factory. Hari Om is also married. Rupendra aged 23 years is in college. His father is a retired army man who now works as a security guard. All the accused are said to be neighbours in the Bisara village.
On Monday evening, they were allegedly part of the large mob that attacked Akhlaq after an announcement at a temple that a calf had been killed. Akhlaq died on the spot and his son was severely injured.
On Sunday, controversial BJP lawmaker Sangeet Som met their families and vowed to get bail for them. Sangeet Som, who is out on bail on charges of inciting riots in 2013 in Muzaffarnagar, also in Uttar Pradesh, threatened a “befitting reply if innocents are framed”.
