Greater Noida: More than five years after a mob attacked and lynched 52-year old Mohammed Akhlaq on suspicion of having beef at his house, trial on the case finally started on March 25. Akhlaq and his son Danish were assaulted by a mob in Bisada village, Dadri, Greater Noida, on the night of September 28, 2015.

The incident occurred after an announcement from a local temple asking residents of the village to gather near a transformer in response to rumours of slaughter of cattle. According to police, some members of the mob forcefully entered the two-storey house of Akhlaq, dragged him outside, and beat him to death. His son Danish was injured while trying to save him. While the first chargesheet was filed by UP Police in December 2015, the charges could only be framed in February 25 this year. Akhlaq’s family members who were supposed to depose before the court at the first hearing on March 25 could not do so. The counsel for Mohammed Akhlaq’s family, Yusuf Saifi, said the reason was that the court summons were not sent to them.

According to Saifi, though the court had issued summons, UP Police could not ensure that those were delivered to the family on time. “The court has directed that the next hearing would be on April 12 when Shaista, Akhlaq’s daughter, and his wife, Ikraman, would most probably depose,” Saifi said. Akhlaq’s daughter Shaista, his wife Ikraman, son Danish and mother, Asgari, are the key eye-witnesses.

Saifi said while the mother-daughter duo are likely to depose on April 12, it will be followed by the deposition of Danish and Akhlaq’s mother Asgari. Other witnesses who are likely to depose include doctors who conducted the post-mortem on Akhlaq and those who treated Danish. Akhlaq’s brother Jaan Mohammed said the witnesses needed police protection for the court visit. “Somehow, it took time in framing charges,” said Mohammed, claiming the accused have been delaying the process by filing different applications. “But we trust the court and hope that truth will prevail,” he added.

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