Dadri mob lynching: major setback for Yogi government

In a major setback to the Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government, the court has rejected the state’s application to withdraw the prosecution against the 14 accused in the Dadri mob lynching case.

The application, filed by the Uttar Pradesh government’s public prosecutor, was dismissed by Additional Sessions Judge Saurabh Dwivedi of the Gautam Buddh Nagar district court. Terming the Akhlaq murder case a serious and important matter, the fast-track court adjourned the hearing to January 6 and directed that all evidence related to the case be preserved.

The withdrawal plea was submitted by the district assistant counsel Bhag Singh Bhati in accordance with directions issued by the state government on August 26. The prosecution had sought permission under Section 321 of the Criminal Procedure Code to withdraw charges against all 14 accused. In October, the Uttar Pradesh government had publicly indicated its intention to withdraw the case, drawing widespread criticism.

The incident occurred on September 28, 2015, when Mohammad Akhlaq was lynched by a mob in Dadri village on the false allegation that he had slaughtered a cow and stored beef in his house. The attackers, many of whom were Akhlaq’s neighbours, dragged him and his son, Danish, out of their home and assaulted them brutally until they lost consciousness. Akhlaq later succumbed to his injuries at a hospital in Noida, while his son sustained serious injuries.

A charge sheet was filed against 14 individuals, including Vishal Rana, the son of a local BJP leader. The accused face charges under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including murder, attempt to murder, rioting, unlawful assembly, assault with deadly weapons, and causing breach of peace.