Brother of Indian man murdered for eating beef calls for calm

Dadri, where Akhlaq was lynched for consuming beef, is in UP.

“Beyond the mob’s inhuman behaviour, it is alarming to note that the police have sent the meat from the victim’s refrigerator to a forensic lab to be tested, out of apparent respect for the mob’s feelings”, a statement posted on the IAMC website said.

The lynching was meant to terrorise the Muslim population of the area and suppress dissent across India over the beef ban implemented in a few states, it added. In 2013, 65 people died in sectarian strife around the northern town of Muzaffarnagar.

The family of the deceased, identified as Jai Prakash, alleged that the police were harassing him saying that he was involved Mohammad Ikhlaq’s killing.

The region holds village council elections next week and Bisara has, in the wake of the killing, become a magnet for campaigning politicians. UP produces 37 percent of beef in India, the highest proportion of meat production in any state.

Such groups attack cattle trucks, track religious conversions in villages and towns, and warn Hindu girls against falling in love with Muslim boys. The views of Mahatma Gandhi and Dr Ambedkar have been quoted by the city-based news and views portal counterview.net in the context of the raging controversy over the demand for ban on cow slaughter in several parts of the country. In recent months, government leaders have advocated a national ban on cowslaughter. Those who spread this poison enjoy his patronage. Sharma’s office said the minister was demanding an independent federal investigation into Akhlaq’s murder. India belongs to all who live here, he argued.

Though Sisodia informed the police and reached the spot in 15 minutes after the call, he could not save his best friend’s life.