Mathura lab says meat found in Dadri victim's house was beef; findings contradict earlier report

In a fresh twist in the Dadri lynching case, a report prepared by a forensic lab in Mathura has concluded that the meat found by the police was beef, eight months after the attack set of a fierce debate over intolerance.

The findings contradict an earlier preliminary report submitted by Dadri's deputy chief medical veterinary officer, according to which the meat confiscated by the UP Police was of a goat.

The latest report has been signed by joint director of Forensic Investigation Laboratory, UP University of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry in Mathura. The report is addressed to deputy chief medical veterinary officer. The same was submitted to the concerned court where the charges against the eighteen accused in the murder of Akhlaq are yet to be framed.

Reacting to the findings of the latest report, Akhlaq's son Sartaj Saifi said the development had left his family 'concerned' and doubtful. "The case was about the brutality meted out to my father and his subsequent murder. But it is also important for everyone to know the truth and that is why questions must be raised about why there are these contradictions. The first report suggested that the meat belonged to a goat and now this new report claims it was beef," Satraj told dna. "I hope this is not political propaganda,"he added.

Speaking to dna an investigating officer said that the probe into Akhlaq's killing does not focus on the nature of the meat but the actual crime of murder. "The latest report should not affect the case. The investigation intends to nail the culprits and that is about it," the officer said.

Akhlaq, a resident of Bisara village of Gautam Bhudh district of western UP was murdered by a mob, allegedly led by son of a local BJP leader in September, last year. Vishal Rana, son of BJP leader Sanjay Rana, along with his cousin, had allegedly made an announcement from a local temple that Akhlaq had slaughtered a calf and had asked residents of the village to gather outside Akhlaq's home.

Moments later Akhlaq was beaten to death, his younger son brutally attacked and his family thrashed. In their defence the accused had claimed that they had found meat allegedly thrown by Akhlaq onto the street which was declared to be of a cow by a local veterinarian, who too was arrested for being a part of the mob that killed Akhlaq. While police did not find this meat from the spot, they did confiscate meat which was declared to be of a goat.

"To the best of my knowledge, it seems that this meat belongs to goat progeny but for final confirmation and diagnosis, sample have been taken and sent to forensic laboratory, Mathura. Rest of the meat was handed over to the police authority for final disposal," read the earlier report which was issued by the deputy chief medical veterinary officer in Uttar Pradesh's Gautam Budh Nagar district. The report had said that meat weighed about 4-5 kg in the form of small pieces, was non-hygienic, red in colour and foul smelling with deposits of white fat.

Left the family concerned and doubtful: Akhlaq's son

Reacting to the findings of the latest report, Akhlaq's son Sartaj Saifi said the development had left his family 'concerned' and doubtful. "The case was about the brutality meted out to my father and his subsequent murder. But it is also important for everyone to know the truth and that is why questions must be raised about why there are these contradictions. The first report suggested that the meat belonged to a goat and now this new report claims it was beef," Satraj told dna. "I hope this is not political propaganda,"he added.