Meat found in Dadri lynching victim's house was beef, says Mathura forensic lab

In a fresh twist in the Dadri lynching case, a report prepared by a forensic lab in Mathura has concluded that the meat found in the victim's house was beef, eight months after the attack set of a fierce debate over intolerance.

The finding was in contrast to the preliminary report of an enquiry by the Uttar Pradesh Veterinary department which said the meat over which Mohammad Akhlaq, 52, was lynched on September 28 last in Dadri was mutton of 'goat progeny'.

What was recovered from the house of the lynching victim in Dadri was that of beef, a senior prosecution officer in the case said today, quoting the report by the Forensic laboratory of the Uttar Pradesh University of Veterinary Services(Animal Husbandry).

It was stated that on the basis of chemical analysis the forensic investigation of the sample showed that it belonged to "cow or its progeny".

The report was sent to the Noida police and submitted to a fast-track court in a sealed cover, an official said.

The Veterinary officer in his report that was cited by the police had earlier said that the mutton sample which was investigated was not beef, but meat of "goat progeny". The sample was later sent to the forensic laboratory in Mathura for 'final diagnosis', according to its report.

Mohammad Akhlaq, 52, was beaten to death on September 28 in Bisahra village in Dadri district by a mob infuriated by rumours that he and his family had stored and consumed beef.

According to police, the meat was sent for testing only to establish the motive for Akhlaq's killing.

Akhlaq's family, which has always denied eating beef on the day of the attack, has rejected the Mathura lab report.

"Dadri police said mutton, now you are saying it is beef. This is all politics," said Akhlaq's brother Chand Mohammad.

"This report(of Mathura lab) has come after six months. At that time, a report(of Veterinary department) had also come, but it didn't say the same thing. We don't know what they have done and what they have done with it?," he added.

Beef eating is not a crime in Uttar Pradesh, only cow slaughter is.

The attack had sparked a nationwide debate over intolerance and beef politics and also unleashed a chain of protests across the country, with prominent writers, film- makers and scientists returning their awards.

Nearly three months after the lynching incident, police filed a chargesheet on December 23 against 15 people, including a minor, but there was no mention of beef in it. A local BJP leader's son is among those named in the chargesheet.

Ikhlaq's daughter Shaishta has been made the prime witness in the case.

"Forensic report is yet to be received on whether the meat sample taken from the fridge of the deceased's house was that of goat or cow. In the chargesheet it is stated that the accused persons had attacked the house of Ikhlaq after the announcement from the temple about cow slaughtering. The accused had found pieces of meat stored in fridge and they had claimed it to be that of beef," Deputy Superintendent of Police Anurag Singh had said on the day the chargesheet was filed.

A chargesheet was also filed against BJP leader Sangeet Som for allegedly violating the prohibitory orders imposed in Dadri's Bishada village where the incident took place.