The attack on Akhlaq and his family took place around 10 pm in Bisara after an announcement about the family consuming beef was allegedly made at a local temple, police said.
According to police, they have sent samples of meat taken from Akhlaq’s home “to the forensics department for examination”. Akhlaq’s daughter, Sajida, said the family had “mutton in the fridge” and not beef.
Six people were arrested in connection with the attack, around 45 km from Delhi, sparking protests that led to police firing, damage to vehicles and injuries to a 20-year-old welder who works for the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) facility in the area.
While Akhlaq, a farm worker, succumbed to injuries suffered during the attack, his son Danish was admitted to a government hospital where doctors described his condition as “critical”.
The man killed for eating ‘beef’ had a son serving in the Indian Air Force. Who is the true ‘nationalist ‘ here ? The mob ?
— sonia singh (@soniandtv) September 30, 2015
Following the rumours, tension ignited and some locals attacked his home in Bisara village,” Singh said.
While a shopkeeper near the temple and Bisara village sarpanch Sanjeev Kumar Rana claimed that those arrested included the temple priest and an aide, police said the priest — identifed only as “babaji” — was released after questioning.
Senior police official said “preliminary investigations revealed that an announcement was made from the temple” about the family consuming beef.
