Shimla: Father of Mohammad Noman Akhtar (21), who was lynched in Himachal Pradesh over alleged smuggling of cow, said that Noman used to do labour work in Malerkotla and wanted to come back home town, Raipur, UP. In order to save the ticket expenses he accompanied four fellow villagers who were bringing some oxen and cows to the village on Friday.
When some right-wing attackers tried to stop the truck, the driver speeded up but the attackers somehow apprehended them.
While the four villagers who received injuries survived but as Noman was thrashed badly could not survive and died before reaching hospital.
Father of Noman, Saeed Akhtar said that Noman could have survived had the police taken him to hospital instead of police station. He also added that instead of giving first aid and taking to hospital, police arrested them on the charges of cow smuggling.
Saeed claimed that the other four villagers were also not aware that transportation of cow is a crime.
Rao Quaisar, SP leader from Saharanpur said that the attackers wanted to burn them alive as the clothes of the four villagers were wet in petrol when he met them in hospital. He also claimed that everything was pre-planned.
Noman was the only earning member in the family. He has a seven-year-old brother and three sisters.