Uttar Pradesh: Dubai-return man lynched over cow theft suspicion

Another instance of cow vigilantism has come to light in Uttar Pradesh where a 22-year-old man, who had returned home from Dubai was beaten to death. The villagers allegedly suspected that he had stolen a buffalo. The incident came to light late on the night of August 28 when it was reported from Bholapur Hindoliya village in Bareilly district.

According to police reports, the villagers called the local police and told them that the victim, identified as Shahrukh Khan, along with three of his friends were trying to steal a buffalo.

The police took the brutally beaten up man to the district hospital, where he died during treatment. “The villagers informed us about the incident. We took the man to the hospital. It seems he had overdosed on drugs. He was a regular user,” said Abhinandan, city Superintendent, said on August 29.

However, Khan’s post-mortem report revealed that he had died of internal injuries to his liver and kidneys. On August 30, NDTV quoted the Superintendent as saying that the reports did not establish any trace of drugs.

“It was a case of mob lynching,” Abhinandan said. “Four men had gone to the village to steal a buffalo around 2.30 am, but they were caught. Three of them jumped into a pond and escaped. But Khan didn’t know how to swim so he was left behind,” he added.

Back in Dubai, Khan worked at an embroidery unit and had come home about a month ago. His brother Firoz said,”He went out with friends after receiving a call from one of them. When he didn’t return home, our family got worried, but thought he would come back by morning. In the morning, we received a call from the police who told us that Khan was in the hospital.”

Khan’s family was left aghast and denied the theft allegations. “He worked in Dubai and other places in the Gulf. He has also stayed in Delhi or Mumbai. He has never done anything wrong. He was self sufficient. Majid and Pappu had called him that day and gave him a pill,” Firoz claimed.

Two cases were registered by the police of which one accused 25 people of murder while the other case of buffalo theft, based on a First Information Report or an FIR by villagers, names Khan and his three friends. Arrests haven’t been made in either case.

Also read: Uttar Pradesh: ‘Gau Rakshaks’ beat up two men for transporting cows