public address by Swami Paramanand, led to mayhem in Uttar Pradesh.

Mohammad Ikhlaq beaten to death by mob after rumours circulate he had eaten beef

An alleged public address by a mysterious priest, identified by locals as Swami Paramanand, led to mayhem in Uttar Pradesh.

Rakesh Ranjan   |    |   Mail Today  |   Bisara village, Dadri(UP), October 1, 2015 | Posted by Shruti Singh | UPDATED 14:57 IST

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Sahista, the daughter of 52-year-old Mohd Ikhlaq, is inconsolable ever since his murder.

For years, Mohammad Ikhlaq and his family lived in peace; their small, semi-constructed house surrounded by a sea of Rajput houses. It was no different for the handful of other Muslim families in Bisara, a Hindu-majority village, an hour's drive from the national Capital, with no history of communal strife.

It all changed on Monday when an alleged public address by a mysterious priest, identified by locals as Swami Paramanand, led to mayhem. The 52-year-old diminutive Ikhlaq was battered to death merely on suspicion that he had slaughtered a cow and stacked beef in his house.

Only a day before the incident, villagers had wished Ikhlaq on Eid like every year and things were peaceful.

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Locals said it was only three months ago that the priest was seen at the local Shiva temple. Most did not even know his name. Ikhlaq's was the only Muslim family living inside the village where nearly 10,000 Hindus also live; the remaining 25-30 Muslim families live on outskirts of the village. "It was the priest who instigated the mob to attack Ikhlaq's house," said a wailing and distraught Asghari Begum, the murdered ironsmith's mother.

Locals suspect the involvement of outsiders. An FIR has been filed against 10 people for attacking the family, six of whom have been arrested. The other four are still at large. The district administration said it is investigating the role of outsiders. "There has been no history of violence in the village and also there is no history-sheeter here," said Rajesh Kumar, ADM, Gautam Budh Nagar district in western UP. Pockets in western UP have, in recent times, faced cases of communal violence, increasingly being seen as a tactic aimed at communal polarisation for long-term electoral gains.

The police have held Swami Paramanand for questioning. However, he has not been arrested formally as they said they are focusing on the perpetrators of the violence and not the man who allegedly triggered it.

Drowned in sorrow, the family recalled how the neighbourhood celebrated Eid with them only a day before, but in a moment of madness a few of them murdered the head of the family. "The mob inserted a rod through his ears. They pierced his skull with a pointed object and smashed several bricks on his head. They dragged him to the streets and then we never saw him. There were several fractures on his legs when his body was returned to us after autopsy," said Ikhlaq's mother (70).

The deceased's 22-year-old son, Danish, who was also beaten mercilessly by the mob, is battling for life at a Noida hospital.

Ikhlaq's 46-year-old brother, Jaan Mohammad Saifi, said the different communities observe festivals and family functions for generations. But on Monday, the mob had even robbed the ornaments that Ikhlaq's wife had bought for the marriage of their daughter Sahista, he said.

The devastated family, however, blamed it on a handful of radical elements in the village who were misguided by 'some political parties'.

"Nearly 200 men armed with rods stormed the house and attacked my father and brother. They attempted to rape me and my mother. We tried to lock ourselves inside but they broke open the door," said Sahista pointing towards the broken door. "My father and brother Danish were bleeding profusely. We begged before our neighbours for help but nobody came forward," she said.

Ikhlaq's mother said the attack was so abrupt that the family had no time to escape. "We thought our neighbours would come to our rescue but instead they accused us of eating beef. They found meat in the fridge and killed my son. They were instructed by the priest who made an announcement on the temple's loudspeaker," Asghari said, adding they could hear inflammatory words but could not ascertain if it was meant for her family. "We had no enmity with anyone. We lived peacefully. We were like one big family," the ailing woman said as she picked up the blood-soaked clothes of Danish and Ikhlaq that were lying in the courtyard since Monday night. "The attackers removed their clothes before dragging them out of the house," she added.

Family members of the accused agreed that there was indeed a call for murder. "My brother Gaurav had just returned from his office. There was some commotion near the local temple and he went out. He came back shortly and went to sleep. We could hear clear instructions on the loudspeaker to attack Ikhlaq's family. Around 2 am, police picked up my brothers Gaurav and Saurabh," said Garima, the sister of the two accused.