The Uttar Pradesh government has moved a Greater Noida court seeking to withdraw all charges against the accused in the 2015 Mohammad Akhlaq lynching case, bringing the case back into national focus.

On the night of 28 September 2015, a rumour spread in Bisara village that 50-year-old Akhlaq had beef in his home. Within minutes, a mob armed with sticks and rods broke into the house, accused him of cow slaughter, and assaulted him and his son Danish. Akhlaq died; Danish survived with grievous injuries.

We spoke to Yusuf Saifi, the family’s lawyer, who says the legal fight will continue regardless of the government’s stand.

Our team also visited Bisara, where Akhlaq’s house, now locked, silent and nearly in ruins, still stands. We met the father of one of the accused, who spent 24 months in jail. He refused to speak on record but said the case destroyed his son’s education and career.

Police filed a chargesheet in December 2015. Fifteen men were initially named, later expanded to 19. One accused died in 2016; the remaining 18 are out on bail today.

Akhlaq’s younger brother Jaan Mohammad warns that withdrawing a murder case like this sets a dangerous precedent. “It will lead to complete lawlessness,” he says.

The lynching had triggered nationwide protests and brought the term “mob lynching” in public discourse. Writers and artists returned their state honours. We spoke to one of them, Ashok Vajpeyi, and examined the parallel cow-slaughter case filed against Akhlaq’s family and their present condition.

The UP government’s move contradicts its earlier stance that the law will take its own course. Critics say the state now appears to be standing with one side. The next hearing is on December 12, and all eyes are on the court.

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