This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/15/world/asia/family-of-slain-man-in-india-may-be-charged-with-cow-slaughter.html

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Family of Slain Man in India May Be Charged With Cow Slaughter Family of Slain Man in India May Be Charged With Cow Slaughter
(about 7 hours later)
NEW DELHI — Nearly a year after a mob bludgeoned to death a Muslim man, Mohammad Ikhlaq, over rumors that he had illegally killed and eaten a cow, a court ruled on Thursday that villagers can open a criminal case against the dead man’s family for cow slaughter. NEW DELHI — Nearly a year after a mob bludgeoned to death a Muslim man, Mohammad Ikhlaq, over rumors that he had illegally killed and eaten a cow, a court ruled on Thursday that villagers could open a criminal case against the dead man’s family for cow slaughter.
The killing in Dadri, in northern India, in September came amid a rising mood of conservative Hindu nationalism in India and set off passionate debate about religious tolerance.The killing in Dadri, in northern India, in September came amid a rising mood of conservative Hindu nationalism in India and set off passionate debate about religious tolerance.
Nineteen men face murder charges in Mr. Ikhlaq’s killing.Nineteen men face murder charges in Mr. Ikhlaq’s killing.
Villagers rallied around them, saying the attack was necessary because the state failed to enforce the 1955 Prevention of Cow Slaughter Act. They say that they tried to file criminal charges against Mr. Ikhlaq’s family in the days after the murder, but that the police prevented them.Villagers rallied around them, saying the attack was necessary because the state failed to enforce the 1955 Prevention of Cow Slaughter Act. They say that they tried to file criminal charges against Mr. Ikhlaq’s family in the days after the murder, but that the police prevented them.
Sanjay Rana, the father of one of the suspects, said the group would file charges against seven people, including Mr. Ikhlaq’s brother, wife, sons and daughters.Sanjay Rana, the father of one of the suspects, said the group would file charges against seven people, including Mr. Ikhlaq’s brother, wife, sons and daughters.
“What I demand is that just as those accused of killing Ikhlaq have been made to languish in jail, so should these seven, who are accused of slaughtering the cow in the first place,” said Mr. Rana, an activist with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.“What I demand is that just as those accused of killing Ikhlaq have been made to languish in jail, so should these seven, who are accused of slaughtering the cow in the first place,” said Mr. Rana, an activist with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.
He went on to criticize the government of the state of Uttar Pradesh, where Mr. Ikhlaq lived, as “incompetent” for taking no action against the Ikhlaq family last year.He went on to criticize the government of the state of Uttar Pradesh, where Mr. Ikhlaq lived, as “incompetent” for taking no action against the Ikhlaq family last year.
Cow slaughter has long been illegal in Uttar Pradesh, where it can be punished by up to seven years in prison or a fine of up to $150, but the law is rarely prosecuted.Cow slaughter has long been illegal in Uttar Pradesh, where it can be punished by up to seven years in prison or a fine of up to $150, but the law is rarely prosecuted.
On the day of Mr. Ikhlaq’s death, a priest announced the discovery of a cow’s slaughtered remains in the village, and cow-protection volunteers had spread the word via social media.On the day of Mr. Ikhlaq’s death, a priest announced the discovery of a cow’s slaughtered remains in the village, and cow-protection volunteers had spread the word via social media.
A furious crowd burst into Mr. Ikhlaq’s home and bludgeoned him with his wife’s sewing machine, dragging his body onto the main road to display it to the public, with the container of meat beside it. He died within hours. His son, Danish Khan, suffered a skull fracture and spent a month in the hospital. The house was ransacked, its furniture splintered and its floors bloodstained.A furious crowd burst into Mr. Ikhlaq’s home and bludgeoned him with his wife’s sewing machine, dragging his body onto the main road to display it to the public, with the container of meat beside it. He died within hours. His son, Danish Khan, suffered a skull fracture and spent a month in the hospital. The house was ransacked, its furniture splintered and its floors bloodstained.
The family, which denies killing or eating a cow, has since left Dadri and moved to Delhi, in part for security reasons. They received 3 million rupees, or about $45,000, in compensation.The family, which denies killing or eating a cow, has since left Dadri and moved to Delhi, in part for security reasons. They received 3 million rupees, or about $45,000, in compensation.
Mr. Khan said he was not concerned about Thursday’s ruling.Mr. Khan said he was not concerned about Thursday’s ruling.
“I am 1,000 percent sure that it will be proved beyond doubt that we did not either kill or eat a cow,” he said. “The court has asked for an investigation and so be it.”“I am 1,000 percent sure that it will be proved beyond doubt that we did not either kill or eat a cow,” he said. “The court has asked for an investigation and so be it.”
But there was jubilation among the supporters of the 19 men accused of killing Mr. Ikhlaq, even though there is no direct connection between the cases. Vichitra Kumar Tomar, a youth leader for the Bharatiya Janata Party, nevertheless said he was confident that his friends, arrested nearly 10 months ago, would soon be released.But there was jubilation among the supporters of the 19 men accused of killing Mr. Ikhlaq, even though there is no direct connection between the cases. Vichitra Kumar Tomar, a youth leader for the Bharatiya Janata Party, nevertheless said he was confident that his friends, arrested nearly 10 months ago, would soon be released.
‘We are hopeful after the court’s order,” he said. “They will all be out. They must be.” “We are hopeful after the court’s order,” he said. “They will all be out. They must be.”