Dadri lynching: Farhan Akhtar pens open letter, asks 'peaceful Indians' to demand justice

Bollywood actor and film director Farhan Akhtar has written an open letter asking "Indians" to voice their protest against the injustice meted out to the Dadri man who was lynched by a mob on 28 September over a rumour that he and his family had slaughtered a cow and consumed the meat in a village in the National Capital Region (NCR).

In a lengthy post on his Facebook page, the 41-year-old cine star touched a raw nerve when he said that he is concerned about "the silence of the peace loving citizen".

While the political leaders have been busy with their usual blame game, the talented musician delved into the dangers of turning this incident into another routine crime.

"What has happened once can surely happen again and unless we, the people, do not unite in demanding immediate action, this is going to turn into a circus with all the usual suspects having a go at each other, trying to score PR points. There are serious implications if justice is not swift and exact," Farhan said.

The lynching of the 50-year-old Muslim man by a mob, allegedly comprising largely Hindus over a rumour, in Dadri in Uttar Pradesh's Gautam Buddha Nagar district has shocked the country. Mohammad Akhlaq died of his injuries, while his 22-year-old son has since been on ventilator support.

According to a report in the Indian Express, Uttar Pradesh Home Guards constable Vinay -- a resident of Bisara who was attached to the Jarcha police station -- is said to have played a major role in forcing the temple priest to make the announcement about Akhlaq's family storing and consuming beef.

Victim's kin meet Akhilesh
Meanwhile, Akhlaq's family met Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday. After the meeting, the UP government increased the financial assistance to the family from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 20 lakh.

Read Farhan Akhtar's full post here:

It's been almost a week now since a man (husband and father) in Dadri, U.P was brutally murdered. He was dragged out of his house and in full view of his family, beaten to death by a mob. His son is in critical condition, doctors still struggling to keep him alive. His wife and daughter will probably never recover from this incident.Reason: He was rumored to have stored and/or eaten beef. Let me repeat that. He was RUMORED to have stored and/or eaten beef.

Now one would imagine that those who committed this crime are lunatics who have no ability to think for themselves, their lives devoid of any purpose and who therefore cling on to the lamest of reasons, or more specifically, sorriest of excuses so as to give meaning to their own existence.
They should be given the harshest punishment to send a message out that this sort of kangaroo justice will not be allowed in our nation.

But will that happen?

It's the aftermath with the routine insensitive quotes from politics leaders, some blatantly blaming the victims eating habits, others sheltering the accused, that have already started creating the blueprint for what is to follow. We've seen it before. Do we want to see it again?

The police sprung into action and have sent the meat from the dead victims house for Forensics!!!!
Need one say more about how twisted this is beginning to get.

The point of this post is that another thing will be routine. The silence of the peace loving citizen. But this is NOT the time to remain silent.
What has happened once can surely happen again and unless we, the people, do not unite in demanding immediate action, this is going to turn into a circus with all the usual suspects having a go at each other, trying to score PR points.

There are serious implications if justice is not swift and exact.

During this week, another Gandhi Jayanti has passed us by. I know one family in UP that must wonder what happened to the principles that he built this nation on.

Indians killing Indians killing Indians. Let's face it.. His memory has been completely dishonored.

Let us not allow the Dadri incident ever to be forgotten or repeated. Jai Hind.