The police have filed a case against a dead man before registering a case against his attackers in the recent alleged cow slaughtering and consequent lynching incident, reported Scroll.
The first case registered by the police was against the victims of the lynching, charging them for cow slaughter, reported Scroll. One of the victims was beaten to death and the other is battling for his life in the hospital. According to Scroll, the second case registered by the police was against the four assaulters, charging them with murder and attempt to murder.
The incident took place on 17 May, in Anjar village, Madhya Pradesh.
The police have booked the deceased man and his friend under provisions of the Madhya Pradesh Cow Slaughter Ban Act, 2004, and the Madhya Pradesh Agriculture Cattle Preservation Act, 1959. The four men identified by the friend have also been arrested.
The police told PTI that the four accused – Pawan Singh Gond, Vijay Singh Gond, Phool Singh Gond and Narayan Singh Gond – were villagers from Amgara.
The accused, upon getting information that two persons were slaughtering a cow at a forest area in Anjar village, about 70 km from Satna district, reached the spot and allegedly beat one of them to death on the intervening night of Thursday and Friday, Superintendent of Police Rajesh Hingerkar told PTI.
The deceased has been identified as Siraj, he added.
The other person who was with Siraj, identified as Shakeel (35), battling for his life in coma in a hospital in Jabalpur.
The police allegedly found a slaughtered bull and pieces of bull meat packed in sacks near the spot, reported The Indian Express.
One of the accused, Pawan Singh Gond, also filed a police complaint for cow slaughter against Siraj and Shakeel.
About 400 policemen have been deployed to maintain law and order in the area following the incident, Inspector General of Police, Rewa Range, Umesh Joga told PTI.
(With inputs from PTI, Scroll and The Indian Express)
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