Pehlu Khan lynching case: Activists criticise decision to close probe against 6 accused

After the closing of probe against six people who were accused of lynching a dairy farmer Pehlu Khan in Alwar, activists and civil society members have criticised the state government and police for the decision. Pehlu Khan died two days after cow vigilantes thrash him in April.

Speaking to Hindustan Times, CPI (ML) Politburo member Kavita Krishnan said that the decision to close down probe is deeply condemnable and shocking but not unexpected.

Kavita said that the closure of probe was expected as home minister and other ministers were in favour of giving clean chit since the time investigation had begun.

Author-activist Harsh Mander finds a pattern in all mob-lynching cases. He said that police always treat the victim as guilty and make all efforts to protect the accused.

Mander even went ahead to say that if the police are forced to file case against the accused then they also make sure that cross-cases are filed against victim.

The Rajasthan police on Thursday gave a clean chit to all six accused in connection with Pehlu Khan murder case. He was beaten by a group of men in Alwar while transporting cattle.

55-year-old Pehlu Khan, hailing from Nuh in Haryana, had died in a hospital in Behror of Alwar district on April 3 after he and four others were attacked by a mob of cow vigilantes while transporting cattle procured from a weekly market in Jaipur to their village.

A video footage of the incident had gone viral on social media.

The issue had also rocked Parliament and Rajasthan State Assembly where opposition mounted pressure on the government for swift action against the accused involved in the lynching incident.