UP Government Moves to Withdraw All Charges Against Accused in Akhlaq Lynching Case: Report
A decade after the Dadri lynching, the state has reportedly sought to drop all charges against the 18 accused villagers.
Nearly ten years after the brutal lynching of Mohammad Akhlaq in Dadri, Uttar Pradesh, the state government has reportedly taken steps to withdraw all charges against the accused. According to a report by Outlook, an application seeking the withdrawal of prosecution has been submitted to the Upper Sessions Court in Gautam Buddha Nagar, where the case is currently being heard.
The report states that the application was filed on October 15 by the Assistant District Government Counsel of Gautam Buddha Nagar. The move was made following instructions from the State Government, conveyed in a letter dated August 26. The application also notes that the Governor has granted written approval for withdrawing the case.
Akhlaq, aged 52, was killed on September 28, 2015, after a temple loudspeaker allegedly announced that he had slaughtered a cow and stored beef at home. Akhlaq and his son Danish were dragged out of their house by a mob, assaulted, and left for dead. Akhlaq succumbed to his injuries, while Danish survived with serious wounds.
Despite widespread national outrage, including the “Not In My Name” protests against mob lynchings, all 18 accused were released on bail by September 2017, shortly after Yogi Adityanath became Chief Minister. Among the accused is Vishal Rana, the son of local BJP leader Sanjay Rana.
While the accused returned to the village, Akhlaq’s family relocated due to fear and hostility.
The original charges against the accused included murder (IPC 302), attempt to murder (IPC 307), voluntarily causing hurt, criminal intimidation, and other related offences. The case had become a symbol of rising mob violence and cow vigilantism in BJP-ruled states.
The court has yet to deliver its decision on the government’s application for withdrawal.
