Pehlu Khan Lynching Case: Priyanka Gandhi Hopes For Justice Under New Rajasthan Law

Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi on Friday expressed shock over the acquittal of all six accused in the Pehlu Khan mob lynching case announced by the lower court earlier this week.

Pehlu Khan was lynched in Alwar in 2017 for transporting cows. (File Photo/ Getty)

Pehlu Khan Lynching Case: Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi on Friday expressed shock over the acquittal of all six accused in the Pehlu Khan mob lynching case announced by the lower court earlier this week. At time same time, she also hailed the the new law against lynchings brought by Ashok Gehlot-led Rajasthan government and said that it would set a good example by ensuring justice to Pehlu Khan, who was lynched in Alwar in 2017 for transporting cows. "The lower court decision in the Pehlu Khan case is shocking. There should be no place for inhumaneness in our country and the murder by a mob is a heinous crime,"she said in a tweet in Hindi. Further in her tweet she said, "The Rajasthan government's move to bring an anti-lynching law is commendable. Hope by getting justice for Pehlu Khan, this will set a good example."

पहलू खान मामले में लोअर कोर्ट का फैसला चौंका देने वाला है। हमारे देश में अमानवीयता की कोई जगह नहीं होनी चाहिए और भीड़ द्वारा हत्या एक जघन्य अपराध है।

— Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) August 16, 2019

An Alwar court had on Thursday acquitted all the six accused in the lynching case, giving them the benefit of doubt. However, expressing anguish over court's decision, CM Gehlot said that the Congress-led state government will file an appeal against the court's ruling. "Our state government has enacted a law against mob lynching in the first week of August 2019. We are committed to ensuring justice for the family of late Pehlu Khan. The state government will file an appeal against the order of Additional District Judge," Gehlot had tweeted. Earlier this month, Rajasthan legislative assembly passed a Bill providing for life imprisonment and a fine from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 5 lakh to those convicted in cases of mob lynching leading to victim’s death. The Rajasthan Protection from Lynching Bill, 2019’ was passed by the Vidhan Sabha by a voice vote amid vociferous protest by the Opposition BJP, which wanted the Bill to be referred to a select committee. Pehlu Khan (55), his two sons and a few others were transporting cows from Jaipur when they were allegedly stopped and thrashed by a mob near Behror in Alwar district on April 1, 2017.