• Source:JND
Add as a preferred

A man lynched by a mob in Uttar Pradesh’s Aligarh on suspicion of theft has been booked along with eight others on charges of dacoity, officials on Sunday. Mohammad Fareed (35), alias Aurangzeb, was killed in the Mamu Bhanja locality on June 18, causing communal tension in the area. Seven individuals were booked in connection with the lynching and six were arrested after the video of the brutal incident went viral on social media.

Fareed was allegedly beaten with iron rods by a mob over theft suspicions. More than 10 days after the incident, the Aligarh police booked Fareed and eight others on dacoity charges on Saturday.

The viral video of the incident shows Fareed being beaten with lathis, punched, kicked and dragged on the road by the mob. A police officer later carried an injured Fareed on his shoulders to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

The FIR for dacoity was registered following a complaint by Lakshmi Mittal, the mother of Rahul, one of the six arrested for the lynching. Mittal alleged that Fareed barged into her house on June 18, tried to molest her and looted valuables. She claimed Fareed fell from the stairs while being chased by her family members and later died from his injuries. Besides Fareed, Mittal's complaint named Salman, Mohamad Zaki and six others.

ALSO READ: Delhi Rain: Rs 10 Lakh Ex-Gratia Announced For Kin Of Those Killed In Rain-Related Incidents

Police have filed a case under IPC sections 354 (assault or criminal force with the intention of disrobing a woman) and 395 (dacoity) against the deceased and the other accused. Circle Officer Rakesh Kumar Sisodiya stated, "In light of recent developments, a dacoity case has been filed against seven named and two unnamed accused."

Conversely, Fareed's family had filed a complaint nearly two weeks earlier, asserting that Fareed was returning home from work when he was mobbed and thrashed by locals on theft suspicion. Superintendent of Police M Shekhar Pathak said Fareed was critically injured when police arrived and was rushed to Malkhan Singh Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.

ALSO READ: Kanpur: Lawyer Kidnaps, Brutally Tortures Minor For Drinking Soft Drink With His Daughter

Political reactions ensued, with leaders from the Samajwadi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party and Fareed’s family staging a sit-in on June 19, demanding the arrest of three other accused. 

State Congress chief Ajay Rai and MPs, including Imran Masood from Saharanpur, visited Fareed’s house on Saturday, alleging that the Yogi Adityanath-led BJP government is ''persecuting minorities''. Rai pledged Congress support to Fareed's family and threatened agitation against any false cases implicating them.

Meanwhile, Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha members met on Saturday and decided to protest against local BJP representatives, demanding action to release those jailed for the lynching. Bajrang Dal leaders also threatened protests if alleged thieves were ''protected'' by police.