Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday questioned the authenticity of a forensic report that said the meat found from Dadri lynching victim Mohammad Ikhlaq’s house was of “cow or its progeny”. Bharatiya Janata Party leader Yogi Adityanath has demanded the registration of a cow slaughter case against Ikhlaq’s family.
“Where was the sample sent, who received it? There was nothing objectionable in his house. Every eye is on this matter. Everyone wants that the victim’s family should get justice as murder had taken place. After this incident, there was debate in the world regarding what to eat and speak. I think one should not get involved in such matters,” Yadav said.
His remarks came after a report prepared by a forensic lab in Mathura concluded that the meat found in the victim’s house was beef.
A preliminary report by the Uttar Pradesh veterinary department had earlier said the meat over which Ikhlaq, 52, was lynched on September 28 last in Dadri was of ‘goat progeny’.
BJP MP Adityanath said the report has put the UP government, opposition parties at the Centre and a section of media in the dock.
“They are mum on this report. The innocent Hindus arrested in the matter should me immediately released and a case of cow slaughter should be registered against Ikhlaq’s family,” he said in Gorakhpur.
“I also demand that the state government should withdraw all facilities given to his (Ikhlaq’s) family,” he said.
The Mathura laboratory forensic report said on the basis of chemical analysis, the meat appeared to be of a “cow or its progeny”. The report was sent to the Noida police and submitted to a fast-track court in a sealed cover, an official said.
According to police, the meat was sent for testing only to establish the motive behind Ikhlaq’s killing.
Ikhlaq’s family members, who have always denied allegations related to beef, have rejected the Mathura lab report.
