The family of a Muslim man, who was lynched by a Hindu mob in India’s Uttar Pradesh state in 2015, say they will continue fighting for justice after authorities recently moved to drop all charges against the accused.
Mohammad Akhlaq, then 50, was beaten to death after rumours spread that he had stored and consumed beef, a claim his family continues to deny.
Slaughter of cows is a sensitive issue in India as the animal is considered sacred by Hindus, who comprise 80% of the country’s 1.2 billion people. Uttar Pradesh is among the 20 states with strict laws banning cow slaughter and the sale and consumption of beef.
