Temple announcement about beef triggered the lynching: Police

GREATER NOIDA: Police probing the mob lynching of a man today said that the "trigger" behind it was the announcement by a local temple that the beef was being consumed by the victim's family and said the priest and the two youths were the "major links" in the case.

The priest claimed he was being made to make the announcement, after which a mob lynched Mohd Akhlaq, father of an IAF officer, over rumours that his family ate and stored beef.

The youths had forced the temple priest to make the announcement, police said, adding that it triggered the attack.

"Some children put the mike and I said see brother....somebody has slaughtered a cow.... you assembly there. That's all I said," the priest said.

Replying to a question, he said "I did not say it but I was made to say it."

"The priest and two youths who forced him to announce beef rumour are the major links. Further probe will reveal the exact sequence of events as to how it all happened," Superintendent of Police (rural) Sanjay Singh said.

District Magistrate N P Singh said that magisterial inquiry has been started.

The FIR lodged in this connection has no mention of beef. Police claimed that the cow slaughter was just an allegation by the assailants.

"FIR has been lodged under IPC section 147 (Punishment for rioting), 148 (Rioting, armed with deadly weapon), 149 (unlawful assembly), 302(murder), 307 (Attempt to murder), 458(house-trespass or house-breaking), 504 (Intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace)," an officer said.

Ten persons have been named as accused along with over a hundred unnamed assailants. The FIR was lodged on the basis of a complaint lodged by the victim's family. Seven of the accused were held yesterday.

"Situation in Bisrakh is under control and magisterial inquiry has been initiated and peace committees are also trying to maintain communal harmony," the DM said.

Police ruled out any personal enmity angle. "Initial probe has ruled out the possibility," said the SP.