Family members of Iqlakh, who was lynched over rumours of alleged beef consumption, have moved to Delhi from Bishada where the administration and police conducted a peace march and held peace committee meetings on Wednesday in an effort to maintain communal harmony. Mohammed Sartaj, whose father Iqlakh was beaten to death and his 22-year-old brother Danish critically injured by a 200-strong mob, said the family has moved to Delhi last night.
As fragile peace returned to Bishada, the District Magistrate held a peace committee meeting in Bishada and adjoining villages while police conducted a peace march to cool tempers. With leaders of various outfits still thronging Bishada, the administration stepped up measures to keep visitors at bay, restricting entry only to residents. Appealing to visitors not to disturb the communal harmony by their speeches, District Magistrate N P Singh said nobody will be allowed to disturb peace in the village.
Administration officials said that prohibitory orders are still in force. Moreover, the victim's family members are not present in the village. The village boundary is still barricaded and police force is deployed. Officials were scanning all the vehicles entering the village. Outsiders including mediamen are being stopped outside the village.
According to villagers, had the media kept away the leaders would not have got the chance to play politics of hate which has disturbed the communal harmony in the area. Villagers have appealed to the media to refrain from highlighting communal speeches and stop the debates as it only escalates the situation. Meanwhile, the victim Iqlakh's son Danish has been shifted from the ICU and has started communicating with family members.
Iqlakh was attacked by a 200-strong mob at Bishada village after a public announcement by a local temple that the family had slaughtered a calf and eaten its meat last Monday night.
