In Pehlu Khan’s Nuh dist, mob lynching an issue

Bhartesh Singh Thakur
Tribune News Service
Nuh, October 19

With the Congress promising to bring a law to curb mob lynching, it has struck a chord among Muslim voters here as Pehlu Khan, who was lynched in neighbouring Rajasthan, was a native of Jaisinghpur village in Nuh.

The case recently grabbed headlines as on August 14, all the six accused were acquitted despite video evidence of beating up of Pehlu (55) by cow vigilantes. He was attacked on April 1, 2017, and died on April 3. The BJP was in power in Rajasthan at that time.

Not just Pehlu, but Junaid (16), who was studying in a madrasa in Nuh, was stabbed to death in a Mathura-bound train on June 22, 2017. He and his brothers were called “beef eaters” and “anti-nationals”.

Rakbar Khan, another resident of Nuh, was allegedly killed by cow vigilantes in Rajasthan on July 20, 2018, while bringing cows to his village. Nuh, which is a Muslim majority district, comprises three seats — Nuh, Punhana and Ferozepur Jhirka.

Irshad Khan, son of Pehlu Khan, said, “If the Congress will bring a law on mob lynching, it is welcome. Only then forces like Bajrang Dal and RSS can be controlled. They lynch innocent people, but there is no punishment.”

He added, “We were dairy farmers. We purchased cows to sell milk. Our hope lies on the Congress as they have filed the appeal. We want justice. I am supporting the Congress in the Haryana Assembly poll.” Irshad now works as a driver and had left the dairy business after his father’s death.

Haidar Ali, resident of Gangwani village in Punahana, said, “The area has been turned infamous for cow smuggling but the stringent cow slaughter Act of Haryana is hardly an issue here. But yes, Pehlu Khan’s case strikes a chord here. A wrong happened to him. He was a milk vendor and was bringing cows. He was not into cow smuggling.”

Aftab Ahmed, Congress candidate from Nuh, said, “As Pehlu Khan was a native of Nuh, mob lynching is an issue. That is why we have put a law to curb mob lynching in our manifesto. Like the Rajasthan and MP Governments, we will enact the law after coming to power.”

However, his opponent Zakir Hussain, BJP candidate from Nuh, hit back, “Our people were lynched, but outside Haryana. Mob lynching is not an issue here, but development and water.”