The Uttar Pradesh police on Monday said the team investigating Mohamad Akhlaq's killing is also looking into the possibility of a political conspiracy into the murder which took place on September 28. Police also told dna that video recordings of BJP MLA Sangeet Som will be checked in order to ascertain if any inflammatory statements were made by the controversial leader.
The development comes days after Vishal Rana, a local BJP leader's son, was arrested by the police for allegedly being a part of the mob that killed Akhlaq. Initially it was believed that the priest of the temple alone had made the announcement, but in his interrogation, Rana told police that he also announced that a cow had been slaughtered after he felt that the priest was not convincing enough.
The probe into the angle of political conspiracy also widened after an FIR was lodged earlier on Monday against members of the Hindu Raksha Dal for allegedly defying prohibitory orders. Several members of the right wing group had on Sunday held a public meeting and distributed pamphlets in support of cow slaughter ban. It also allegedly raised slogans against Muslims in the presence of police and officials of the district administration.
As villagers on Monday again prevented media from entering Bisara, police in the area had a hard time quelling rumours. As reported by dna on Sunday, residents of Chithara village were riled up after a rumour surfaced that a cow had been slaughtered in the area. However, police found out that the animal had been sick and died, as claimed by its owner.
In another incident, a man was arrested after he tried to incite violence in a village not far from Bisara. The man, identified as Manoj, was taking his sick calf to a hospital on a scooter when he was stopped and thrashed. Police later arrested one person, who allegedly after assaulting Manoj spread word that a cow was being taken to be slaughtered.
District Magistrate MP Singh said the situation is under control but police are taking all precautionary steps. "The cyber cell is keeping a close watch on the situation along with the local intelligence," Singh said.
In another development, police filed an FIR against a person who goes by the name Anuj on social media website. "The username was used to spread false rumours and action will be taken accordingly," said a SSP, Kiran S. The officer said the IP address of the username has been traced to Noida area but police are not sure if the accused lives in the area.
A mob, last week, attacked Akhlaq and his son Danish on rumours that he had slaughtered a cow and stored its meat at his home in Bisara village of Dadri. Danish, who had a sewing machine thrown onto his head is currently undergoing treatment in a Noida hospital.
