For the first time in his life, Jaan Mohammad and his family did not vote in their village Bishara in the Gautam Buddh Nagar constituency, where his elder brother Mohammad Akhlaq was lynched in September 2015.
Mr. Mohammad did exercise his franchise on Thursday, but that was at a polling booth in Dadri. The family of 20 moved out of the village soon after the incident fearing for their safety. Mr. Mohammad settled down in Dadri town with his family, while Akhlaq’s family, including his sons Danish and Sartaj, moved to Delhi.
“We voted for a candidate who, we believe, can ensure development of all sections of the society,” said Mr. Mohammad. “I was overcome by nostalgic today. I miss my village where I was born and lived for 40 years. We still have our houses in the village.”
“In 2014, the entire family voted at a polling station in Bishara village... I voted at a polling station in Dadri today with seven other family members,” Mr. Mohammad said.
Akhlaq’s family members will cast their votes in Delhi’s Subroto Park on May 12. Mr. Sartaj works in the Indian Air Force.
Accused vote early
The incident still weighs heavily on Bishara, which saw a massive voter turnout on Thursday. To avoid media attention on the village, the accused in the lynching case were asked by senior citizens here to vote early and then go “underground” till the polling ends.
