Pehlu Khan’s aggrieved family visits his grave every Friday evening and during the festivals of Eid and Bakrid to pay their respects.
On 1 April 2017, Khan was allegedly lynched by a mob on the suspicion of smuggling cattle. Two of his sons, Arif and Irshad, were with him. While they both survived, Khan succumbed to his injuries two days later.
More than two years after his death, on 14 August 2019, an Alwar court acquitted all of the 6 accused, despite there being video evidence of Khan being lynched in broad daylight.
‘A Product of Fear’
The family feels betrayed by the court’s verdict.
“The verdict has hit us hard, why wouldn’t it? We want them (accused) to be in jail. ”Mubarik Khan, son
Also survivors of the mob violence, eyewitnesses and neighbours Azmat and Rafique Khan feel that government pressure influenced the court’s decision, as there was plenty of evidence against the accused.
“There was a media report, where Vipin (one of the accused) accepted that he beat us up for two hours and had keys of both the trucks,” he says.
Azmat adds that the person who filmed the lynching initially gave a statement but then backed out.
“Whatever said and done there was video evidence. What kind of court verdict is this?”Azmat Khan, neighbour
Mubarik Khan, Pehlu’s son, alleges intimidation attempts by the accused who, he says, had lawyers and ministers on their side.
“When our lawyer would reach the court they would threaten him to not show up again. The people in the court are also scared. The verdict of this court is a product of that fear.”Mubarik Khan, son
Survivors Booked for Cattle Smuggling
All four survivors of the April 2017 lynching have a case of cattle smuggling registered against them. The charge sheet was filed in May 2019.
“We have a case against us but they have been acquitted. This case against us, there is a possibility we will get punished in the case.”Rafique Khan, neighbour
Azmat feels that the government didn’t listen to what they had to say, “If the government had done their job properly these people would not have been acquitted.”
Challenging the Verdict
The family has decided that they are not going to accept the verdict of the trial court and intends to fight this case till they get justice.
Pehlu’s wife Zubaina says she plans to appeal in a higher court.
“We will not sit. My kids are anyway not being brought up the best way. But when it comes to this case, till the time my kids are alive, we will keep fighting the case.”Zubaina Khan, wife
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