Alwar lynching: Pehlu Khan’s uncle threatens to commit suicide with entire family
Six accused named in the FIR are still absconding even over two weeks after the incident
As alleged accused in the lynching of dairy farmer Pehlu Khan in Alwar roam free, victim’s uncle Hussain Khan on Monday threatened to commit suicide along with his entire family if “justice” eludes them for long.
The 55-year-old dairy farmer from Nuh in Haryana was grievously assaulted by self-styled cow vigilantes near Behror in Rajasthan on Delhi-Alwar highway on April 1, branding him as a cattle smuggler. He succumbed to his injuries at a private hospital on April 3.
Even more than two weeks after the incident, police have failed to trace the six absconding accused, infuriating the bereaved family, who staged protest in Jaipur along with other members of their community.
“My nephew was beaten mercilessly to death even though he had the documents to prove he legally purchased the cattle. The government, instead of arresting the accused, is trying to protect them. If we don’t get justice soon, I along with all my family members will commit suicide,” Hussain told the HT on the sidelines of an agitation at police Commissionerate in Jaipur.
Hussain and other members of his community from Jaisinghpur village of Haryana’s Mewat district were in Rajasthan capital for the protest organised by People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) against the lynching.
They want a court-monitored inquiry into the incident and an immediate arrest of the main culprits.
Alwar superintendent of police Rahul Prakash said they were raiding various places to nab the six absconders named in the FIR over the incident. They have been on the run since April 5.
“We want to detain them for interrogation,” Prakash said, adding the accused would be arrested only if police during questioning find substantial evidence to link them to the lynching.
The petrified community, meanwhile, threatened a massive agitation if the administration did not take adequate measures to safeguard the interest of bovine owners.
“Almost every household in Mewat has cows. Tomorrow these vigilantes could attack us, saying we don’t have proper documents. So we plan to take out a massive rally and surrender our cows to the district administration at the collectorate,” said Maulana Hanif, a Mewat resident.
The agitating community also alleged Pehlu Khan did not receive proper medical treatment at a private hospital in Alwar, where he died. “Our repeated plea to shift the fatally injured to a better hospital fell on deaf ears,” said a villager.
“Muslims and Hindus have been living cordially in Mewat for generations. Now, there is a conspiracy to create a discord. These so-called gau rakshaks are robbers who beat up people and loot them on the pretext of cow protection,” Hanif said.