Man jailed in Ikhlaq lynching case dies, kin cry custodial torture

One of the accused involved in the lynching of 52-year-old Mohammed Ikhlaq at Bishada village of Dadri in Greater Noida’s died in a Delhi hospital on Tuesday. His family has alleged that custodial torture in jail lead to his death. 

The jail authorities have, however, denied the allegation and claimed that the man died due a vector-borne disease, while the hospital authorities maintain that he died due to kidney/respiratory “failure”.

According to the reports, the accused Ravi (30), lodged in the Greater Noida jail, was unwell for a couple of weeks and was admitted to the Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Hospital in Delhi on Monday. But a day later, he passed away. 

Ravi was among the 16 accused arrested after Ikhlaq’s lynching and was lodged in jail for a year. 

As the news of his death broke, his family cried custodial killing, alleging that he was brutally beaten up in jail. His family members said that Ravi was kept in a separate cell by the jail authorities.

“On September 30, Ravi was brutally thrashed by some police officials in jail, which deteriorated his condition. He was reportedly taken to a hospital from where he was referred to Delhi. The administration neither informed the family, nor revealed what led to his deteriorating condition. On Tuesday, we were informed about his death, but were not told the reason. We have information that he died due to brutal beating,” said Sanjay Rana, Ravi’s relative.

A mob had lynched Ikhlaq and injured his son Danish on September 28, 2015, following rumours that they had slaughtered a cow and consumed beef. The agitated mob had dragged the duo out of their house in Bishada village. 

A total of 19 people, including two juveniles, were accused in the case. Of these, one was given a clean chit by the police and he was let off. Two minors were also freed by courts.