Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi is convinced that Pehlu Khan was not lynched by a mob in Rajasthan’s Alwar district. Defending his government in the Rajya Sabha, Naqvi had, on Thursday, declared that “the incident did not take place on the ground.” But mounting evidence surrounding the gruesome video suggests otherwise.
Mr Naqvi, is This Video Doctored?
The most crucial piece of evidence remains a video that went viral after Pehlu and sons were thrashed brutally, reportedly by gau rakshaks over allegations of cow smuggling on Saturday. The video shows a mob first dragging and then bashing around 15 men on the Behror Highway. The video also shows a man being pushed to the ground, his white kurta stained with blood. Pehlu later succumbed to injuries at a Behror hospital on Wednesday.
Is Pehlu Khan’s Son Lying? No!
Now if visuals aren’t enough, here’s another piece of evidence for the minister. Straight from the horse’s mouth. In this, Pehlu’s son Irshad says that he watched his father being beaten by a mob.
‘They beat us up mercilessly. Our father was thrashed in front of our own eyes. We were attacked for being Muslims.’Irshad, Pehlu Khan’s Son
Irshad also mentioned that they were returning home after having purchased two milch cows and two calves from a cattle fair in Jaipur. In Behror, they were stopped, and their receipts were torn by a charged mob. The men accused them of smuggling cows, and then let their Hindu driver free, before unleashing a brutal assault.
Listen to Rajasthan Home Minister
On Wednesday, Rajasthan Home Minister Gulab Chand Katariya confirmed that “a man had died in the scuffle” that unfolded on the Behror highway. Who is Katariya referring to? Is the Rajasthan Home Minister lying as well?
Finally, we hope you are convinced, Mr Naqvi.
Video Editor: Purnendu Pritam
Join The Quint on WhatsApp. Type “JOIN” and send to 9910181818
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)