Mohammad Akhlaq, 50, was dragged from his house in Bisada village in Uttar Pradesh state and beaten to death by around 100 people over rumours he had eaten beef — a taboo in the Hindu-majority nation.
“We have filed a charge sheet against 15 persons… it is a case of murder,” additional director general of police in Uttar Pradesh, Daljeet Chaudhary, told AFP.
He added that police have charged a 17-year-old juvenile who was part of the group — a day after Indian lawmakers passed a bill allowing tougher punishment for minors aged between 16-18 convicted of “heinous crimes” including murder.
Akhlaq’s murder fuelled concerns that religious intolerance may be growing under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party government.
Critics accuse the Hindu nationalist government of having failed to protect minorities since it came to power at general elections in May last year.
While Modi did eventually describe the lynching as “unfortunate”, many commentators pointed out that it took the prime minister several weeks to respond.
Rumours that the family had eaten beef began when a calf was reported missing in Dadri village, 35 kilometres (22 miles) from New Delhi.
A nearby temple made an announcement via loudspeaker that the family had consumed beef and within minutes the mob kicked down Akhlaq’s door and tore through his home before killing him.
Akhlaq’s 22-year-old son was also seriously injured in the attack and was admitted into intensive care at a nearby hospital, where he has reportedly undergone several operations.
The victim’s family has maintained they had mutton in the fridge and not beef.
Local media reports said the family now lives in the southern state of Tamil Nadu with Akhlaq’s other son.
