Tension continued to prevail in Bisara village of Dadri with locals resisting the entry of visitors on Sunday after a man was lynched last week for allegedly consuming beef. A home guard has been detained for questioning in connection with the mob attack which led to the death of Akhlaq.
Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav announced a compensation of Rs45 lakh to the victim’s family even as political sparring over the incident got shriller with controversial BJP MlA Sangeet Som alleging the SP Government of “appeasing Muslims”. The BJP also accused the UP CM of giving “communal colour” to the incident.
In a statement, BJP secretary Siddharth Nath Singh said, “Rather than shedding crocodile tears, Akhilesh Yadav should answer why his police wanted to do forensic test of meat sample when the issue should have been arresting the culprits of the most unfortunate and barbaric killing in Dadri… Was not his administration trying to give it a communal slant by ordering forensic testIJ What action does he propose against his Minister Azam Khan who ranted on communal lines from day one of the incidentIJ”
Som questioned why the State Government allowed AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi to visit the village and spread “communal frenzy”.
“A person like Owaisi was allowed to come here from Hyderabad. Is the Samajwadi Party Government colluding with himIJ... This Government is trying to appease a particular community. They want to do politics of appeasement which we will not allow,” the MlA said.
However, Akhilesh Yadav dismissed the criticism saying the Samajwadi Party would “never do politics” on such incident. He also promised justice to the family of the victim and announced an assistance of Rs45 lakh as the victim’s kin met him in lucknow on Sunday.
Also, Nasiruddin Siddiqui of Bahujan Samaj Party also gave a cheque of Rs11 lakh to the victim’s family.
Meanwhile, police detained a home guard for questioning after the local temple priest alleged that he forced him to make the announcement.
Police had on Saturday arrested two persons — Vishal and Shivam. One of them was reported to be the son of a local BJP leader. However, BJP leader Harish Thakur denied that the father of the accused was a BJP office bearer and said he may be a BJP supporter.
50-year-old Akhlaq was beaten to death and his 22-year-old son Danish was critically injured by a mob which barged into their house on Monday night.