A team of Indian Air Force officials visited Bishara on Monday and met the family of Mohammad Akhlaq Saifi who was publicly lynched last week by a violent mob provoked by rumours that he stored and ate beef in his home. The team also met the district magistrate N.P. Singh.
“Air Force has been in touch with us. Akhlaq’s family has not told us they wished to leave the village. But if they do, we will make all the arrangements and help them to shift out,” said Mr. Singh.
Mohammad Akhlaq’s son Mohammad Sartaj Saifi, who works at the IAF base in Chennai, is apprehensive about leaving the family alone in a charged atmosphere. On several occasions in the last few days, the family had told the media that it did not have any option after what happened but to move out. The DM informed the Air Force officials that security had been provided to Akhlaque’s family and it would be further strengthened if required.
A senior official said there was a strong likelihood that the family would shift to Chennai with Sartaj.
