Hapur Lynching: Gau Rakshaks, Police Apathy & A Survivor’s Ordeal

Samiuddin, who survived the blows of a mob over rumours of cow slaughter, recalls the fateful day.

(Photo: Shruti Mathur/The Quint)

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Almost a month after the Hapur lynching incident, the only survivor Samiuddin, on 14 July said the police has, till date, not registered his statement. His younger brother, Yaseen, further alleged that the cops had threatened him of implicating his family in a false cow slaughter case if he refuses to sign on a forged FIR.

“On 18 June, I got a call from my house in Hapur’s Madapur telling me about an attack on my brother by a mob from the neighbouring village, Bajhera Khurd. After I rushed back, I was asked to go from one hospital to another. Nobody was telling us where my brother actually is. Our family friend (Dinesh Tomar) and I pleaded the police to give us the accurate details of my brother, Samiuddin. But the police threatened us saying if we don’t sign on a false FIR they would not tell us which hospital our brother is in and also implicate us in a cow slaughter case,” Samiuddin’s brother Yaseen told The Quint.

A 39-year-old Muslim cattle trader, Qasim and 65-year-old Samiuddin were beaten up by a mob in Hapur’s Bajhera Khurd village on 18 June. While the former succumbed to his injuries, Samiuddin was discharged from the hospital only on 14 July.

Narrating his ordeal when he was “slapped, punched, abused and dragged” by a mob of 20-25 people over suspicion of cow slaughter, Samiuddin said that the police did not even come to speak to him after he regained consciousness although Circle Officer Pawan Kumar Singh had earlier told The Quint that his statements were on record.

Even the court order that granted bail to one of the prime accused in the case on 4 July, Yudhishthir Sisodia, quoted Samiuddin’s statement. Loopholes in the investigation of the case came to the fore when Hapur sessions court granted bail to Yudhishthir, who was charged under IPC Sections 302 (murder) and 307 (attempt to murder), citing that the FIR and the police case diary does not hold a strong case against him.

Samiuddin’s family friend, Tomar, said the police forced him to write that the matter was related to “road rage” and not rumours of cow slaughter while filing the FIR.

Speaking to The Quint, Samiuddin named three people whom he could identify from the mob. He said he would be able to further identify people by face.

Pawan Kumar Singh remained unavailable for a comment. This copy will be updated if and when he responds.

We Will Take Adequate Legal Steps to Ensure Justice: Vrinda Grover

Meanwhile, noted lawyer and human rights activist, Vrinda Grover, who is fighting the case for Samiuddin told The Quint that a letter with the statements of Samiuddin, Yaseen and Tomar have been sent to Inspector General of Meerut requesting him to take necessary action to ensure justice.

“If the first FIR is fabricated, there is no bar from lodging a second FIR in the same case. Moreover, even if they don’t register another FIR, the statement of a survivor who is a key eyewitness should be enough to turn the investigation around,” said Grover.

Grover said they will soon move the Court if the Uttar Pradesh police fails to initiate action in the case.