Lynched 2 years ago, Pehlu Khan chargesheeted for cow smuggling
Two years after the infamous Alwar mob lynching incident, Rajasthan police have filed a chargesheet against the victim, Pehlu Khan, and his two sons for cow smuggling. Khan, a dairy farmer, was beaten to death by a mob near Behror, while he was transporting cows in a truck. The owner of the pick-up truck has also been named in the chargesheet. Here's more.
Khan, two sons, charged under Section 5,8,9 of RBA Act
According to reports, the chargesheet posthumously accuses Khan under Sections 5, 8 and 9 of the Rajasthan Bovine Animal (Prohibition of Slaughter and Regulation of Temporary Migration or Export) Act, 1995 and Rules, 1995. His sons, Irshad and Aarif, have also been charged under the sections. Incidentally, the chargesheet was prepared on December 30, days after the Congress government came to power in Rajasthan.
Khan Mohammed, truck owner, charged under RBA Act Section 6
"After complete investigation in the matter, offenses under Section 5, 8, 9 RBA Act has been proved against accused Irshad, Aarif and Pehlu Khan while offenses under Section 6 RBA Act has been proved against accused Khan Mohammed," The Indian Express quotes the new chargesheet.
Had hoped Congress govt would withdraw case, says Irshad
Meanwhile, Irshad (25), said, "We lost our father in the attack by cow vigilantes and now we have been charged as cow smugglers." "We had hoped the new Congress government in Rajasthan would review and withdraw the case against us, but now a chargesheet has been filed against us. We hoped for justice after the government change but that didn't happen," he added.
Chargesheet presented in court on May 29
The chargesheet was filed against FIR number 253/17 of the Behror police station in Alwar, according to the TIE report. It was presented in the court of the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate in Behror on May 29.
Backstory: Here's what happened in the 2017 Alwar lynching
To recall, in 2017, Pehlu Khan (55)- a resident of Jaisinghpur village, Mewat- and his two sons were transporting cows, allegedly without permission. The cows were bought at a Jaipur cattle fair and were being driven to their home in Haryana via the Jaipur-Delhi National Highway, when they were stopped by a cow vigilante mob and thrashed. Khan died in hospital two days later.
Two FIRs were filed in Alwar lynching case
Two FIRs were filed in connection with the incident- one against eight people, who were with the mob, and another against Khan and his two sons, for transporting cattle without the district collector's permission.
Similar chargesheet filed by BJP government against Khan's associates
Notably, two trucks were attacked on the fateful day: one with Khan and his sons, owned by Khan Mohammed; and another owned by Jagdish Prasad, driven by Arjun. Last year, Rajasthan's former BJP government had filed a similar chargesheet against Azmat and Rafique, who were aboard the second truck. Meanwhile, the eight accused in Khan's lynching are out on bail, and two remain untraceable.
