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{{EngvarB|date=March 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2017}}
{{Short description|Lynching incident in Uttar Pradesh, India}}

{{Infobox civilian attack
| title = 2015 Dadri
lynching
| image =
| caption =
|map= {{Location map|India3
|width = 250
|float = right
|label = Dadri
|marksize = 8
| lat_deg = 28.550
| lon_deg = 77.553
}}
| map_caption =
| location = Bisahda village, [[Dadri]], [[Uttar Pradesh]], India
| coordinates =
| target = Akhlaq family
| date = 28 September 2015
| time =
| timezone =
| type = Lynching
| fatalities = 1 (Mohammad Akhlaq)
| injuries = 1 (Danish Akhlaq)
| perps = Cow vigilantes
| susperps =
| weapons =
|notes=
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The '''2015 Dadri lynching''' refers to case of [[lynching]] in which a mob of villagers attacked the home of 52 year-old Mohammed Akhlaq, killing him, for suspicion of slaughtering a [[cow]].<ref name="ie01042019">{{cite news |title=Lynching accused in front row, Yogi says at Dadri: 'SP govt tried to curb our emotions' |url=https://indianexpress.com/elections/lynching-accused-in-front-row-yogi-adityanath-says-at-dadri-sp-govt-tried-to-curb-our-emotions-5652017/ |access-date=1 April 2019 |publisher=The Indian Express |date=1 April 2019}}</ref> The attack took place at night, on 28 September 2015 in '''Bisahda village''', near [[Dadri]] in [[Uttar Pradesh]], India. The mob consisting of local villagers, attacked Akhlaq's house with sticks, bricks and knives, saying that they suspected of him stealing and slaughtering a cow calf.

Mohammad Akhlaq Saifi (Ikhlaq according to some sources) died in the attack, and his son, 22-year-old Danish, was seriously injured. Later an Indian court found [[prima facie]] evidence of meat that may have been either mutton or beef, and ordered registration of a [[first information report]] (FIR) against Akhlaq.<ref name=IndianManBBC>{{cite news|title=Indian man lynched over beef rumours|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-34398433|access-date=4 October 2015|work=[[BBC News]]|date=30 September 2015}}</ref><ref name=IExpressBeef>{{cite news|title=Dadri: Outrage after mob lynches man for allegedly consuming beef|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/outrage-after-man-lynched-over-rumour-of-storing-beef-in-house/|access-date=4 October 2015|work=[[The Indian Express]]|date=1 October 2015}}</ref><ref name=AlJ-Rumors/><ref name=DH-Bisara>{{cite news|title=Bisara faces political polarisation|url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/504202/bisara-faces-political-polarisation.html|access-date=4 October 2015|work=[[Deccan Herald]]|date=3 October 2015}}</ref><ref name="FIR Indian express">{{cite news|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/dadri-lynching-beef-ban-mohammad-akhlaq-family-fir-bisara-2914776/|title=Dadri lynching: Court orders FIR against murdered Mohammad Akhlaq, his kin|access-date=28 February 2017|work=[[Indian Express]]|date=15 July 2016}}</ref> Then the state government changed the original report and concluded that he was not storing beef for consumption.<ref name="jazeera">{{cite web|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2017/07/india-epidemic-mob-lynching-170706113733914.html|title=What is behind India's epidemic of 'mob lynching'?|last=Apoorvanand|website=www.aljazeera.com}}</ref>

==Events==

===Background===
On 28 September 2015 evening, one of Akhlaq's neighbors allegedly accused him of stealing and slaughtering his missing calf at Bisahda village near [[NTPC Dadri]] in Uttar Pradesh.{{Citation needed|date=April 2017}} Soon a crowd gathered and insisted on searching his house for traces of slaughter which was refused by family. Soon things took an ugly turn when two boys used the local temple's public address system and announced that the family of Akhlaq had killed the cow calf and consumed its meat on [[Eid-ul-Adha]].<ref name=BBCWhy>{{cite news|title=Why India man was lynched over beef rumours|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-34409354|access-date=4 October 2015|work=[[BBC News]]|date=1 October 2015}}</ref><ref name=WP-beat>{{cite news|title=A mob in India just dragged a man from his home and beat him to death — for eating beef|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/09/30/a-mob-in-india-just-dragged-a-man-from-his-home-and-beat-him-to-death-for-eating-beef/|access-date=4 October 2015|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=30 September 2015}}</ref> Cows are considered sacred in [[Hinduism]] and in most Indian states including Uttar Pradesh, where killing cows is illegal.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-no-beef-nation/|title=The states where cow slaughter is legal in India|date=8 October 2015|publisher=}}</ref> The police said that this was the cause of the outrage of citizens.<ref name=ET-temple>{{cite news|title=Temple announcement about beef triggered the lynching: Police|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/temple-announcement-about-beef-triggered-the-lynching-police/articleshow/49190181.cms|access-date=4 October 2015|work=[[The Economic Times]]|date=2 October 2015}}</ref>

===Attack===
Mob carrying sticks arrived at Akhlaq's house at around 10:30 p.m. ([[Indian Standard Time|IST]]) that evening. The family had finished dinner and were about to go to sleep. Akhlaq and his son Danish were already asleep. The mob woke them and accused them of consuming beef. They found some meat in the refrigerator and seized it, but the family insisted it was mutton. However, the mob proceeded to drag the entire family outside; Akhlaq and Danish were repeatedly kicked, hit with bricks and stabbed. The family's neighbours tried to stop the mob but were not able to. The police were called and arrived an hour later. By then, Akhlaq was dead and Danish was badly injured.<ref name=AlJ-Rumors>{{cite news|title=Indian mob kills man over beef eating rumour|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/09/indian-mob-kills-man-cow-slaughter-rumour-150930193719666.html|access-date=4 October 2015|work=[[Al Jazeera English|Al Jazeera]]|date=1 October 2015}}</ref><ref name=BBCWhy/><ref name=WP-beat/><ref name=MM-Eight>{{cite news|title=Eight held for lynching 'beef-eater' in Dadri|url=http://www.mumbaimirror.com/news/india/Eight-held-for-lynching-beef-eater-in-Dadri/articleshow/49175446.cms|access-date=4 October 2015|work=[[Mumbai Mirror]]|date=1 October 2015}}</ref>

The family had been living in the village for about the 70 years. The family consisted of Akhlaq, 52; his brother Jan Mohammad Saifi, 42; mother Asgari Begum, 82; wife Ikram; son Danish, 22; and daughter Sajida.<ref name=AlJ-Rumors/><ref name=TS-beef>{{cite news|title=Mob allegedly beat Muslim farmer to death for eating beef|url=http://www.torontosun.com/2015/09/30/mob-allegedly-beat-muslim-farmer-to-death-for-eating-beef|access-date=4 October 2015|newspaper=[[Toronto Sun]]|date=30 September 2015}}</ref><ref name=IE-Pakistani>{{cite news|title=Dadri lynching: Three days before attack, my son was called a Pakistani, says mother|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/three-days-before-attack-my-son-was-called-a-pakistani-says-mother/|access-date=4 October 2015|work=[[The Indian Express]]|date=2 October 2015}}</ref> Akhlaq's elder son, Mohammad Sartaj, 27, works as a [[corporal]]-ranked technician in the [[Indian Air Force]] (IAF) and was in [[Chennai]] at the time of attack.<ref name=IT-DadriVillage>{{cite news|title=Danish battles for life, his brother decides to leave Dadri village|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/mail-today/story/as-danish-battles-for-life-airman-mohammad-sartaj-says-he-will-shift-his-family-out-of-harms-way-266230-2015-10-04|access-date=4 October 2015|work=[[India Today]]|date=4 October 2015}}</ref>

===Aftermath and arrests===
The police arrested the temple's priest and his assistant for questioning. An FIR was filed naming ten of the attackers based on the testimony of the family members. It contained charges under Sections 147 ([[rioting]]), 148 (rioting with [[deadly weapon]]), 149 ([[unlawful assembly]]), 302 ([[murder]]), 307 ([[attempt to murder]]), 458 ([[house-breaking]]), and 504 ([[hate speech|intentional insult]] with intent to [[breach of the peace]]) of the [[Indian Penal Code]]. Six of them were found and arrested by 1 October 2015. On 1 October, the number of arrests went to eight. The arrests were protested by locals. The protesters set fire on vehicles and vandalised shops. The police had to fire in the air to disperse them. One person was injured in the protests.<ref name=BBCWhy/><ref name=ET-temple/><ref name=MM-Eight/> Personnel from Uttar Pradesh Provincial Armed Constabulary and the [[Rapid Action Force]] were deployed in the village.<ref name=IE-Para>{{cite news|title=UP Police, RAF, paramilitary patrol tense Dadri village|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/up-police-raf-paramilitary-patrol-tense-dadri-village/|access-date=6 October 2015|work=[[The Indian Express]]|date=1 October 2015}}</ref>

The temple priest denied involvement. He said that he was forced to make the announcement by some youngsters. The priest said that he had only announced that a cow had been killed and asked people to gather near the temple.<ref name=ET-temple/> On 3 October, a man named Vishal Singh Rana, the son of a local [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] (BJP) leader Sanjay Rana, was arrested in connection to the case.<ref name=HD-BJPson>{{cite news|title=BJP leader's son held in Dadri lynching case|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/bjp-leaders-son-held-in-dadri-lynching-case/article7720979.ece|access-date=4 October 2015|work=[[The Hindu]]|date=4 October 2015}}</ref> By 4 October, Danish had spent 4 days in the [[Intensive Care Unit]] and undergone two brain surgeries. He had been admitted in Kailash Hospital, [[Greater Noida]],<ref name=IT-DadriVillage/> and then to [[Army Hospital Research and Referral]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=11 October 2015|title=Dadri lynching: Akhlaq's son Danish shifted to Army's Research and Referral hospital|url=https://www.news18.com/news/india/dadri-lynching-akhlaqs-son-danish-shifted-to-armys-research-and-referral-hospital-1150192.html|access-date=2020-10-09|website=News18}}</ref>

Some female relatives of the arrested persons attacked journalists and pelted stones at media vans. They claimed that these persons had been wrongly arrested and the media was covering only the victim's story.<ref name="IE-chasemedia">{{cite news|title=Dadri lynching: Women residents throw stones, chase media out of village|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/dadri-lynching-women-residents-throw-stones-chase-media-out-of-village/|access-date=4 October 2015|work=[[The Indian Express]]|date=4 October 2015}}</ref><ref name="MM-bias">{{cite news|title=Mob lynching in Dadri: Kin of accused attack journalists over 'bias'|url=http://www.mumbaimirror.com/news/india/Mob-lynching-in-Dadri-Kin-of-accused-attack-journalists-over-bias/articleshow/49211804.cms|access-date=4 October 2015|work=[[Mumbai Mirror]]|date=4 October 2015}}</ref>

On 5 October, [[Uttar Pradesh Police]] asked [[microblogging]] site [[Twitter]] to remove certain text and photographs related to the incident, which it considered provocative.<ref name=DNA-twitter>{{cite news|title=Dadri lynching: Police asks Twitter to delete 'provocative' posts on Muhammad Akhlaq's killing|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-dadri-lynching-police-asks-twitter-to-delete-provocative-posts-on-muhammad-akhlaq-s-killing-2131982|work=[[DNA India]]|access-date=6 October 2015}}</ref><ref name=TOI-twitter>{{cite news|title=Dadri lynching: Uttar Pradesh Police ask Twitter to delete 'provocative' posts on killing|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Dadri-lynching-Uttar-Pradesh-Police-ask-Twitter-to-delete-provocative-posts-on-killing/articleshow/49236011.cms|access-date=6 October 2015|work=[[The Times of India]]|date=6 October 2015}}</ref> The victim's family left Bisahda village and moved to an Indian Air Force zone in Delhi on 6 October.<ref name=DC-Leaves>{{cite news|title=Beef battle: Iqlakh's family leaves Dadri|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/151008/nation-current-affairs/article/iqlakh%E2%80%99s-family-leaves-dadri|access-date=8 October 2015|work=[[Deccan Chronicle]]|date=8 October 2015}}</ref><ref name=DNA-moves>{{cite news|title=Dadri killing: Victim's family moves to Delhi, peace march held in village|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-dadri-killing-victim-s-family-moves-to-delhi-peace-march-held-in-village-2132439|access-date=8 October 2015|work=[[DNA India]]|date=7 October 2015}}</ref>

Subsequently, 19 people were charged under the case, including Vishal Singh Rana and Vishal, his friend. 16 of the accused were subsequently invited by Uttar Pradesh's Chief Minister [[Yogi Adityanath]] to be present at his [[2019 Indian general election|election]] rallies.<ref name="ie01042019"/>

==Reactions==

The lynching was followed by political reactions on all sides, with the BJP trying to distance itself from direct responsibility for the killings, yet at the same time taking advantage of them in some rallies, But BJP accused that parties like the [[Indian National Congress]] (INC) and [[Bahujan Samaj Party]] (BSP) are trying to gain political mileage from the incident.{{Citation needed|date=January 2021}} The then Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh [[Akhilesh Yadav]] announced an [[ex-gratia]] of {{INR}}10,00,000 for the family on 30 September 2015. He also directed the [[District Magistrate]] and [[Superintendent of Police|Senior Superintendent of Police]] (SSP) of [[Noida|Noida Police]] to provide police protection to the family.<ref name=IE-exgratia>{{cite news|title=Dadri lynching: UP govt announces Rs 10 lakh compensation to next of kin|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/dadri-lynching-up-govt-announces-rs-10-lakh-compensation-to-next-of-kin/|access-date=4 October 2015|work=[[The Indian Express]]|date=30 September 2015}}</ref> On 3 October 2015, the ex-gratia was raised to {{INR}}20,00,000.<ref name=NDTV20Lakh>{{cite news|title=Dadri Mob Killing: Ex-Gratia for Family Raised to Rs. 20 Lakh|url=http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/dadri-mob-killing-ex-gratia-for-family-raised-to-rs-20-lakh-1225799|access-date=4 October 2015|work=[[NDTV]]|date=3 October 2015}}</ref> Akhlaq's elder son Mohammad Sartaj, said that he has decided to move the family out of Dadri.<ref name=NDTV-Move>{{cite news|title='Neighbours' Attacked his Father. Now Air Force Man Wants to Move His family|url=http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/neighbours-attacked-his-father-now-air-force-man-wants-to-move-his-family-1225056?site=full|access-date=6 October 2015|work=[[NDTV]]|date=1 October 2015}}</ref> However, fearing for their safety, the family shifted to Delhi on 6 Oct 2015.

The [[Home Minister of India|Home Minister]] and former [[Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh]], [[Rajnath Singh]], appealed to people to maintain communal harmony and promised strict action against those who try to disrupt it.<ref name=TH-Rajnath>{{cite news|title=Strict action against those who disrupt harmony, Rajnath on Dadri lynching|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/strongest-action-against-those-who-disrupt-harmony-rajnath-singh-on-dadri-lynching/article7733844.ece|access-date=8 October 2015|work=[[The Hindu]]|date=7 October 2015}}</ref> [[Finance Minister of India|Finance Minister]] [[Arun Jaitley]] said such incidents affect the image of the nation and people should rise above them.<ref name=NDTV-Arun>{{cite news|title=Incidents Like Dadri Mob Killing Bring Bad Name to India, Says Arun Jaitley|url=http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/incidents-like-dadri-mob-killing-bring-bad-name-to-india-says-arun-jaitley-1227869|access-date=8 October 2015|work=[[NDTV]]|date=6 October 2015}}</ref> Union Minister [[Mahesh Sharma]] said that the incident was not planned but an unfortunate accident. However, he promised justice to the family.<ref name=IE-MaheshSharma>{{cite news|title=Dadri lynching: Mob murder an accident, arrested youths too will get justice, says Mahesh Sharma|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/dadri-lynching-union-minister-mahesh-sharma-meets-victim-family-insists-it-was-accident/|access-date=4 October 2015|work=[[The Indian Express]]|date=3 October 2015}}</ref> Another BJP leader [[Tarun Vijay]] said that this incident may derail the Prime Minister [[Narendra Modi]]'s agenda of development. He asked Hindus to look after cows instead of resorting to violence. He also pointed to the issues of beef export and stray cows consuming plastic from garbage.<ref name=IE-Tarun>{{cite news|title=Dadri lynching: Incidents like these derail PM Modi's efforts, says BJP MP Tarun Vijay|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/dadri-lynching-incidents-like-these-derail-pm-modis-efforts-says-bjp-mp-tarun-vijay/|access-date=4 October 2015|work=[[The Indian Express]]|date=1 October 2015}}</ref> BJP leader [[Sakshi Maharaj]] criticised the exgratia amount and said that if a Hindu had been killed his family would have received much less.<ref name=Zee-Sakshi>{{cite news|title=When Muslim dies they give 20 lakhs, but Hindu doesn't even get 20,000: Sakshi Maharaj|url=http://zeenews.india.com/news/india/when-muslim-dies-they-give-20-lakhs-but-hindu-doesnt-even-get-20000-sakshi-maharaj_1805764.html|access-date=6 October 2015|work=[[Zee News]]|date=4 October 2015}}</ref>

[[Asaduddin Owaisi]], leader of [[All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen]], criticized the police's decision to test the meat, calling this an irrelevance in light of the violent attack. He also criticized the ruling party of the state for inaction and the local BJP leaders for seeking to defending the attackers.<ref name=TOI-brains>{{cite news|title=Why test meat, why not their brains, asks Owaisi|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/Why-test-meat-why-not-their-brains-asks-Owaisi/articleshow/49190012.cms|access-date=4 October 2015|work=[[The Times of India]]|date=2 October 2015}}</ref>

[[Air Chief Marshal]] [[Arup Raha]] called the incident unfortunate and said that they were trying to move the family to an IAF area to help and protect them.<ref name=IE-Raha>{{cite news|title=Dadri lynching was unfortunate, trying to move family to IAF area, says Air chief Arup Raha|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/dadri-lynching-was-unfortunate-trying-to-move-family-of-injured-air-force-aspirant-to-iaf-area-air-chief/|access-date=4 October 2015|work=[[The Indian Express]]|date=4 October 2015}}</ref> Former [[Bihar]] Chief Minister and leader of [[Rashtriya Janata Dal]] (RJD) political party [[Lalu Yadav]] said that poor people and Indian [[expatriate]]s eat beef and that there was no biological difference between beef and goat. He added that eating meat and beef was not good for health.<ref name=IE-Lalubeef>{{cite news|title=Hindus also eat beef, says Lalu|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/dadri-lynching-lalu-prasad-yadav-says-hindus-too-eat-beef/|access-date=4 October 2015|work=[[The Indian Express]]|date=4 October 2015}}</ref> However, he later retracted his statements, admitting he had spoken without any thought.<ref name=TOI-Laluback>{{cite news|title=Fearing Yadav backlash, Lalu goes back on 'Hindus eat beef' remark|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Fearing-Yadav-backlash-Lalu-goes-back-on-Hindus-eat-beef-remark/articleshow/49251433.cms|access-date=7 October 2015|work=[[The Times of India]]|date=7 October 2015}}</ref>

After the murder of Akhlaq, BJP legislator [[T. Raja Singh]] posted on Twitter sections from the Hindu text the Vedas that allegedly mandated killing people who slaughter cows. They were subsequently found to be lies.<ref name=FP>{{cite news|title=Modi's Sacred Cows|publisher=[[Foreign Policy]]|author=ARIF RAFIQ|date=2015-10-09}}</ref>

On 6 October 2015, author [[Nayantara Sahgal]] returned her [[Sahitya Akademi]] award in protest of the growing intolerance in the country. She pointed to the recent murders of [[M. M. Kalburgi]], [[Narendra Dabholkar]] and [[Govind Pansare]], and called the Dadri lynching her last straw.<ref name=TOI-sehgal>{{cite news|title=Nehru's niece Nayantara Sehgal returns Sahitya Akademi award, protests rising intolerance|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Nehrus-niece-Nayantara-Sehgal-returns-Sahitya-Akademi-award-protests-rising-intolerance/articleshow/49244721.cms|access-date=7 October 2015|work=[[The Times of India]]|date=6 October 2015}}</ref><ref name=HT-Sahgal>{{cite news|title=Nayantara Sahgal protests Dadri lynching, returns Akademi award|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/nayantara-sahgal-to-return-her-sahitya-akademi-award/article7730676.ece|access-date=7 October 2015|work=[[The Hindu]]|date=6 October 2015}}</ref> Later, [[Ashok Vajpeyi]] and [[Rahman Abbas]] also returned their awards.<ref name=TOI-returns>{{cite news|title=Urdu writer returns state award to protest against 'intolerance'|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Urdu-writer-returns-state-award-to-protest-against-intolerance/articleshow/49266190.cms|access-date=8 October 2015|work=[[The Times of India]]|date=8 October 2015}}</ref>

On 7 October, [[Azam Khan (politician)|Azam Khan]], a cabinet minister in the [[Government of Uttar Pradesh]], said that he will raise the Dadri lynching issue at [[United Nations]].<ref name=DNA-Azam>{{cite news|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-sack-me-if-you-want-but-dadri-case-is-going-to-the-un-says-azam-khan-2132430|title=Sack me if you want, but Dadri case is going to the UN, says Azam Khan|access-date=7 October 2015|work=[[Daily News and Analysis]]|date= 7 October 2015}}</ref> On 7 October, [[President of India]] [[Pranab Mukherjee]] said that diversity, tolerance and plurality are the core of Indian civilisation and they kept India united for centuries.<ref name=TH-CoreValue>{{cite news|title=Pranab warns against letting go of India's core values|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/amid-outrage-over-dadri-lynching-pranab-mukherjee-talks-about-core-values-of-tolerance-and-plurality/article7734410.ece|access-date=8 October 2015|work=[[The Hindu]]|date=7 October 2015}}</ref>

The [[Prime Minister of India]], [[Narendra Modi]], referencing the President's speech, said in a public rally on 8 October to follow the President's message and ignore statements of communal political leaders, urging people to stay united. He stated, "Hindus and Muslims should fight against poverty and not against each other".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/prime-minister-modi-breaks-silence-on-dadri-lynching-episode/article7738896.ece |title=Modi breaks silence on Dadri lynching |work=The Hindu |date=2015-10-03 |access-date=2015-10-09}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/pm-modi-breaks-silence-on-dadri-says-communal-harmony-will-take-the-country-forward/ |title=PM Modi breaks silence on Dadri: President's message our guiding principle |publisher=The Indian Express |date=2013-10-27 |access-date=2015-10-09}}</ref> On October, he termed the incident "dukhad" [saddening]. But he questioned the logic behind blaming the centre for it. Modi also termed undesirable the opposition to Pakistani singer [[Ghulam Ali (singer)|Ghulam Ali]]'s concert in Mumbai by the [[Shiv Sena]], but sought to know how the centre was responsible for it.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/why-blame-the-centre-modi-on-dadri-lynching/article7760342.ece |title=Lynching is saddening, but Centre not to blame: Modi |work=The Hindu |date=2015-10-15 |access-date=2015-10-15}}</ref> Modi was criticized for speaking out against the killing ten days after it occurred.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=INDIA'S HOLY COW VIGILANTES|url=http://www.newsweek.com/2015/11/27/holy-cow-vigilantes-394749.html|author=JASON OVERDORF}}</ref>

==Request to close all inquiries==

The relatives of Akhlaq met the Chief Minister Yadav in the first week of December 2015. They expressed satisfaction on the monetary support they received and the progress of the case inquiry. At the same time, they requested him to close all further inquiries into the case.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://khabar.ndtv.com/news/lucknow/uttar-pradesh-now-dadri-victims-do-not-want-further-inquiry-1251756|title=उत्तर प्रदेश : अब कोई जांच नहीं चाहते दादरी कांड के पीड़ित|publisher=|access-date=2 May 2021|archive-date=8 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208104123/http://khabar.ndtv.com/news/lucknow/uttar-pradesh-now-dadri-victims-do-not-want-further-inquiry-1251756|url-status=dead}}</ref>
<ref>{{cite web |title=A Decade After Akhlaq's Lynching, Uttar Pradesh Govt Moves to Drop All Charges Against Accused |url=https://thewire.in/communalism/a-decade-after-akhlaqs-lynching-uttar-pradesh-govt-moves-to-drop-all-charges-against-accused |website=The Wire |access-date=15 November 2025 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=10 years after Akhlaq lynching, UP govt seeks to withdraw case against accused |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/lucknow/10-years-dadri-lynching-up-govt-withdraw-case-accused-10367304/ |website=The Indian Express |access-date=15 November 2025 |language=en-in |date=15 November 2025}}</ref>

== FIR against victim and his kin ==
On 9 July 2016, judicial magistrate Vijay Kumar at the Surajpur district court ([[Greater Noida]]) issued direction under section 156 (3), on a petition filed by a Bisahda village resident against murdered Akhlaq and his kin. On the night of 28 September 2015 police collected a sample of the meat from Akhlaq's house in Bisahda and sent it to a vet for preliminary testing. These tests suggested it was mutton, but the [[Uttar Pradesh Police]] sent the sample to another lab in [[Mathura]] for a conclusive test, as per which meat was beef.<ref name=Hindu>
{{cite news
| title = Dadri meat was beef
| publisher = Hindu
| url =
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/Dadri-meat-was-beef-claims-fresh-forensic-report/article14378277.ece
| date = 20 September 2016
| access-date = 28 April 2020
}}</ref>

== Move to withdraw case ==
On 15 October 2025, the government filed a withdrawal application in the court citing inconsistent statements by Mohammad Akhlaq’s kin in naming the accused; the fact that no firearm or sharp weapon was recovered from the accused, and the lack of any enmity or hostility recorded between the accused and the victim.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-11-16 |title=10 years after Dadri man lynched over beef suspicion, UP govt moves to withdraw case |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/lucknow/10-years-dadri-lynching-up-govt-withdraw-case-accused-10367304/ |access-date=2025-11-17 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-11-17 |title=Moving to drop Dadri lynching case, UP govt cites family’s ‘changing statements, no enmity’ |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/moving-to-drop-mohammad-akhlaq-dadri-lynching-case-up-govt-cites-familys-changing-statements-no-enmity-10369676/ |access-date=2025-11-17 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Cow-based lynching]]
* [[Cattle in religion]]
* [[Victim blaming]]
* [[2017 Alwar lynching]]
* [[The Brotherhood (2017 film)|''The Brotherhood'' (2017 film)]] - Documentary about the lynching

==References==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}
{{Lynching in India}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dadri lynching, 2015}}
[[Category:Lynching deaths in India]]
[[Category:Anti-Muslim riots in India]]
[[Category:Hinduism and cattle]]
[[Category:2010s in Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category:Gautam Buddha Nagar district]]
[[Category:Murder in Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category:September 2015 in India]]
[[Category:2015 murders in India]]
[[Category:Hinduism-motivated violence in India]]
[[Category:Hindutva]]
[[Category:Riots and civil disorder in Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category:2015 riots]]
[[Category:Dadri|Lynching, 2015]]
[[Category:Hate crimes in India]]
[[Category:Knife attacks in India]]
[[Category:Stabbing attacks in 2015]]
[[Category:September 2015 crimes in Asia]]

2015 Dadri lynching - Revision history

RodEsters254334 at 05:47, 24 April 2026