Dadri lynching: Hearing on framing of charges deferred to October 28

Hearing on framing of charges against 18 accused in the Dadri lynching case was deferred to October 28 as the judge of the fast track court was on leave on Friday. The counsels of the accused also moved their bail plea on Friday that will be heard on September 30.

On the night of September 28 last year, Bisada village resident Mohammad Ikhlaq, 55, and his younger son Danish were attacked by a mob of locals over allegations of slaughtering a cow on Bakr Eid and storing its meat for consumption. Ikhlaq had succumbed to his injuries while Danish survived with a fractured skull.

“In the absence of the judge, the hearing on framing of charges was deferred to October 28,” said Ram Sharan Nagar, counsel of the accused persons.

Eighteen persons, including three juveniles, were arrested on charges of murder and assault. All three juveniles are out on bail. The counsel of accused Shivam moved his bail plea that was also deferred to September 30 for hearing.

“The bail plea will be heard in the fast track court itself. It has been more than 11 months since the accused was arrested. We will seek his bail on the next hearing,” said Santosh Chaudhary, the other counsel of the accused persons.

Meanwhile, the family of the accused persons threatened an agitation seeking arrest of Ikhlaq’s kin on charges of cow slaughter. A forensic report from the Mathura lab had confirmed that the meat allegedly recovered from Ikhlaq’s fridge belonged to a cow or its progeny. A case of cow slaughter was registered against Ikhlaq and six of his family members at Jarcha police station a couple of months ago following orders of the Allahabad high court.

“It has been two months since the FIR was registered, but the police have not arrested any of the accused. If they don’t arrest them soon, we will stage a protest,” said Sanjay Rana, former BJP leader and father of one of the accused.

The police, however, said the case is still under investigation.