NCM 'satisfied' with probe in Ballabhgarh lynching

The National Commission for Minorities (NCM) on Tuesday expressed "satisfaction" with the action taken by the district authorities and police in the June 22 lynching of 16-year-old Junaid Khan in Ballabhgarh.

The Commission had sought a report on the incident from Deputy Commissioner of Faridabad, which was discussed in a meeting of the NCM on Tuesday.

"The Commission discussed the issue of lynching of a Muslim youth in Ballabhgarh on June 22. A report in this matter was sought from Deputy Commissioner, Faridabad. The report was discussed on Tuesday. The Commission expressed satisfaction on the action taken by the district authorities and police to nab the culprits and handle the situation peacefully," NCM chairman Ghayorul Hasan Rizvi said.

Junaid was stabbed to death on an EMU train going from Ghaziabad to Mathura while he was on his way back home from Delhi, along with his brothers Haseen and Shakir and cousin Moeen, after shopping for the Eid.

Junaid was a resident of Khandawli village in Palwal district.

His brothers were also injured by the lynch mob, which also allegedly hurled communal abuses at them. The Government Railway Police on Monday had announced a reward of Rs 2 lakh to anyone providing information on the identity of the accused.

Rizvi said, based on media reports about lynching of a trader in Jharkhand on June 29, he had also called up Director General of Police (DGP) of Jharkhand the next day (on June 30) and enquired about the incident.

"The DGP had assured to take all possible steps to arrest the accused. It is now reported in the media that two persons have been arrested.

Moreover, the NCM has sought a detailed report from District Magistrate of Ramgarh about the incident through a letter dated July 3," he said.

The Ballabhgarh lynching led to widespread protests across several cities in India.