Villagers move court seeking FIR against Akhlaq's family

A group of Bishada villagers today moved court seeking filing of an FIR for alleged cow slaughter against family members of Mohammad Akhlaq, who was lynched nine months ago on suspicion that his family stored and ate beef at their house.

"Bishada residents today gave an application to the Chief Judicial Magistrate of Gautam Budh Nagar under Section 156(3) of CrPC with a request to direct the police to lodge an FIR against Akhlaq's family members," a Senior Prosecution Officer said.

Section 156(3) empowers a magistrate to order an FIR and consequent investigation by the police against those named in the complaint.

The court will hear the matter on June 13, he said.
"Akhlaq's family members will be given the opportunity to submit their reply and then the court will decide whether there is need for directing police to lodge FIR," he said.

At a mahapanchayat in Bishada last week, the villagers had given an ultimatum to police to file an FIR against Akhlaq's family members within 20 days, after a report of a forensic lab in Mathura concluded that the meat found in the victim's house was of "cow or its progeny".