The shocked and shaken brutal murder of 58-year-old Mohammad Akhlaq in Dadri by a mob of about 200 people has set an adverse impact in Bisada village.
The schools witnessing huge dropout rates after the lynching incident and now no priest wants to take charge of the temple from where it was announced that Akhlaq’s family slaughtered cow and was having beef.
According to a report published in TOI, Sukhbar Das (65), the original priest whom police had called a ‘major link’ in relation to the incident, has also declined an offer by villagers to come back.
Therefore, having no choice, the residents are now performing the rituals all by themselves.
Many priests have been approached, but no one is willing to take charge fearing police action.
“We have approached many priests, but nobody is willing to take charge of the temple. Negative publicity of the temple and fear of legal action are keeping all priests away from the temple,” Om Mahesh, a resident who is performing the daily aarti in the temple, told TOI.
Prior to the lynching incident, religious activities used to take place every day. Nowadays, hardly any residents perform aarti, whereas many others don’t visit the temple humanly.
On September 28 Mohammad Akhlaq was dragged from his house and lynched after an announcement was made from the temple that his family was storing and having beef.
Akhlaq’s 21-year-old son Danish was critically injured. So far 10 accused have been detained in connection to the case.