Uttar Pradesh: In a major link in the Dadri mob Lynching case, Sukhdas, the priest of the temple from where the announcement about beef eating was made has confessed making the announcement on the temple loudspeaker.
Police probing the Dadri lynching said on Thursday that the “trigger” behind the grisly incident was the announcement by a local temple that beef was being consumed by the victim’s family. They added the priest and two youths were the “major links” in the case.
The temple priest, Sukhdas, under detention said 2-3 youths had forced him to make the announcement on the loudspeaker so that people congregate in the area.
Sukhdas also claimed that he was being made to make the announcement, after which a mob lynched Mohd Akhlaq, father of an IAF officer, over rumours that his family ate and stored beef. While talking to Network 18, the priest said:
“Some children put the mike and I said see brother….Somebody has slaughtered a cow…. You assembly there. That’s all I said”.
The priest further added that “I did not say it but I was made to say it.”
The FIR lodged in this connection has no mention of beef. Police claimed that the cow slaughtering was just an allegation by the assailants.
“FIR has been lodged under IPC section 147 (Punishment for rioting), 148 (Rioting, armed with deadly weapon), 149 (unlawful assembly), 302(murder), 307 (Attempt to murder), 458(house-trespass or house-breaking), 504 ( Intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace),” an officer said.
Ten persons have been named as accused along with over a hundred unknown assailants. The FIR was lodged on the basis of a complaint lodged by the victim’s family. Seven of the accused were held on Wednesday.
“The priest and two youths who forced him to announce beef rumour are the major links. Further probe will reveal the exact sequence of events as to how it all happened,” superintendent of police (rural) Sanjay Singh said.
District magistrate NP Singh said that magisterial inquiry has been started.
“Situation in Bisrakh is under control and magisterial inquiry has been initiated and peace committees are also trying to maintain communal harmony,” the DM said.