A fast-track court in Noida, which is conducting the trial in the high-profile 2015 mob lynching case of Mohammad Akhlaq, will now resume its proceedings on Thursday. This comes after a scheduled key witness failed to appear before the court on Tuesday, citing personal reasons.
Court's Push for Day-to-Day Hearings Hits a Hurdle
The court, presided over by Additional District Judge Saurabh Dwivedi, had earlier ordered daily hearings to expedite the long-pending trial. Judge Dwivedi had fixed Tuesday for recording the statements of crucial witnesses. However, the process was delayed when one witness did not attend.
Supreme Court advocate Andleeb Naqvi, representing the victim's wife Ikraman, explained the absence. He stated that the witness could not appear due to a sudden bereavement in the family of Sartaj, Akhlaq's son. The witness proposed to depose on Tuesday could not appear because of the sudden death of a close relative of Sartaj, the victim's son, Naqvi said.
A Long and Winding Legal Battle
The case dates back to September 28, 2015, when a mob attacked Akhlaq's home in Bisada village of Dadri. The violence was triggered by rumours, allegedly spread through an announcement at a local temple, that the family had slaughtered a cow and stored beef. Akhlaq was dragged out and beaten to death, while his son Danish suffered critical injuries in the assault. Danish survived after undergoing two head surgeries.
Police initially filed an FIR against 10 accused and several unidentified persons under IPC sections for murder, attempt to murder, and house trespass. The number of accused later increased to 18. Of these, three were declared juveniles, two have died, and the remaining are out on bail.
The case saw slow progress for years, with charges finally framed on February 25, 2021. It garnered renewed attention in August last year when the Uttar Pradesh government applied to withdraw the prosecution, citing contradictions in witness statements and forensic reports. Ikraman strongly opposed this application, calling it misleading and politically motivated.
Court's Firm Stand and the Path Ahead
In a significant order on December 23 last year, Judge Saurabh Dwivedi rejected the state government's application for withdrawal. Emphasizing the gravity of the crime, the judge directed that the matter be treated as a highly important file, marked with a special sticker, and heard on a day-to-day basis to ensure a swift conclusion.
So far in the trial, the court has recorded the statement of Akhlaq's daughter, Shaishta. The testimonies of his son Danish and wife Ikraman are still pending. The resumption of proceedings on Thursday is the next step in a case that has become a symbol of the fight for justice in incidents of mob violence.
