JAIPUR: The controversial BJP MLA from Alwar, Gyan Dev Ahuja, has once again stoked a row by asking Rajasthan Home Minister Gulab Chand Kataria to register a case of cow smuggling against the victim of the Alwar lynching case, Akbar Khan and his associate Aslam Khan.
Going a step further, Ahuja even wants legal action against Akbar's relatives. In contrast, the MLA has promised all help to the accused Gau Rakshaks in the lynching case and claims that since they are innocent he will strive to get freedom for the accused who are currently in jail.
The three-time senior MLA, Gyan Dev Ahuja even claims that the Meos in whose village Akbar allegedly bought the cows have denied that they sold any cows. He has even questioned why Akbar and his companion were transporting cows at midnight on a Kuchcha road when the fateful lynching tragedy happened. He says, "There should be action against Aslam and Akbar. What were they doing hanging around there at 12 in the night if they were not cattle smugglers and what did they hear. The police must register a case of cow smuggling against them or else we will file a court case against the police."
In reality, Akbar's companion Aslam had given a statement to the police on 21 July stating that he heard the seven cow vigilantes talking among themselves while beating Akbar that they had the support of "MLA Saab" and "no one could even touch them". Ahuja, however, claims that Aslam is making these false claims due to pressure from the police which wants to cover up for its own failures.
"Both Akbar and Aslam were cow smugglers and so were their brothers and sons and a case of cow smuggling was registered against them in 2014 at Navgaon. Similarly, in the case of Pahlu Khan, both his sons and brother were also involved in cattle smuggling and case of cow smuggling was registered against them also," asserts Ahuja.
In a similar incident in April 2017, Pahlu Khan died after a mob lynched him at Behror in Alwar while he was taking cows to his village in Haryana.
Reacting to the MLA's claims, former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot says all this is just a ploy for political gains. "BJP MLA and BJP government are hand in glove in this incident. All these false claims are being made to garner Hindu votes."
On the fateful night of 21 July, while Akbar and Aslam were returning to their village Nuh in Haryana with two cows and calves, they were attacked by a group of gau rakshaks in Lallavandi. Aslam managed to escape from their clutches but Akbar was beaten with lathis by the mob.
At around 4'o clock police took Akbar to Rajgarh government hospital where he was declared brought dead upon arrival by the doctors. Three cow vigilantes who had been named in the FIR were arrested for allegedly beating Rakbar Khan. ASI Mohan Singh was suspended and four other constables were remanded to the police lines for negligence of duty and Home Minister Kataria had ordered a judicial inquiry into the death of Akbar Khan in police custody.