The daughter of a Dadri lynching victim testified for the second day on Wednesday, as the trial resumed after seven years. Shaista (27), the daughter of Mohammad Akhlaq, who was beaten to death in 2015 on suspicion of consuming beef and cow slaughter, testified before a Surajpur fast-track court at the trial's evidence stage, Indian Express reported.
Lawyer representing Akhlaq’s family, Yusuf Saifi said, “Testimonies of key witnesses in the case began on Tuesday. Akhlaq’s daughter has recorded her statement based on the FIR filed in the case. She has corroborated the sequence of events since she was present at the time of the incident. After her, other family members will give their testimonies,” Express reported.
According to investigators, Shaista named the accused who reportedly harassed the family after the event and recounted witnessing Akhlaq being pulled out of the house and beaten up in her testimony. The local police had previously recorded her statement under CrPC section 164.
According to authorities, the woman was cross-examined by one of the defense lawyers as part of the proceedings.
After her statement is recorded, family members, including Akhlaq's wife Ikraman and his mother Asgari, will testify, according to authorities.
After the accused has presented their evidence, their testimony will be recorded. The next scheduled day is Friday, when Shaista's testimony is expected to complete.
The FIR was lodged at the Jarcha police station under IPC sections 302 (murder), 307 (attempt to murder), 147 (rioting), 148 (rioting with a dangerous weapon), 149 (unlawful assembly), 323 (assault), and 504 (intentional insult to disturb peace), among others.
In 2016, a Surajpur court ordered that a second FIR be filed against Akhlaq's family members for alleged cow slaughter.
All nineteen defendants in the case are presently free on bail.
In April 2016, the Akhlaq lynching case was sent to a special court.