In August 2018, the Supreme Court had refused to buy the Uttar Pradesh Police’s version that the Hapur lynching was a “road rage” incident which turned fatal. Statements made by petitioner Samaydeen and some others before the Magistrate had shown the case in its true light – a mob lynching premised on a false rumour of cow slaughter. In April this year, the apex court had directed the State government to file a status report, which was provided to the petitioners. In their reply to the report, the petitioners had pointed out “glaring contradictions and fatal shortcomings in the police investigation”. “The charge sheet had omitted to use legal provisions that would show the common mens rea or common intention or common object of the mob.

Source: The Hindu May 28, 2019 06:22 UTC