The charge sheet in the lynching of Mohammad Akhlaqk in Bishahra village in Dadri is expected to be filed by the Uttar Pradesh police on Friday, three months after the attack. In a breakthrough in the case, the police arrested four persons on Monday for their alleged involvement in the lynching on September 28. Arun, Ravin, Hariom Singh and a juvenile were among the five persons arrested on Monday.
The arrests were made on the deposition of Shaista, daughter of Mohammad Akhlaq, before the additional judicial magistrate on November 26. Shaista was present in the house during the attack after rumours that the family had stored beef in fridge. Anurag Singh, the local Circle Officer told The Hindu that the arrests were made in response to Shaista's statement. “All five were presented before a magistrate and sent to jail. Their names have also been added in the FIR and they have been charged under relevant sections of the IPC for murder,” he said. Besides, Shaista, Akhlaq’s son Danish, who was severely injured in the mob attack, also named three people.
With Monday’s arrests, 15 of the 19 accused are now behind bars. Besides the ten accused named in the original FIR, nine other names were mentioned by Danish and Shaista. Four of the nine are still at large. Mr. Singh said the police will submit the charge sheet before December 26. A senior police official said investigating officers are giving final touches to the charge sheet.
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“We have to submit the charge sheet before December 26, Saturday, but we are actually trying to submit by Friday,” said a senior police official from Greater Noida.