Dadri killing: Is there more to Mohamad Akhlaq's murder than cow slaughter?

Investigators probing the murder of Mohamad Akhlaq, who on September 28 was beaten to death by a mob that accused him of eating cow meat, maintain that the incident was a spontaneous one. Authorities also, have downplayed the role of a political group or organisation active in the Bisara village of Dadri. However a closer inspection of the socio-political development of the villages in the past few months suggest otherwise. Multiple sources in the police as well as local government bodies have claimed tha at least two of those accused for killing Akhlaq have links to hardline political groups.

Among them are three little-known groups named – Rashtravadi Pratap Sena (RPS), Choudhary Charan Singh Sena and the Samadhan Sena, which has now come under police scanner after emerging reports of the group being close to some of youth in Bisara village. All the groups were set up in the last six months in different villages spread across the Dadri area which has 115 villages with each one having a strong Panchayat system in place.

Speaking to dna some village heads also known as Gram Pradhan alleged that these groups have a specific goal and were roping in teenagers and men in their 20s to carry out violent attacks against the Muslim population.

"They attacked a Muslim Gram Pradhan's son for opening a shop in the village. Previously also there have been many instances in which the members of the group have made both physical and verbal attacks against Muslims," said a Pradhan who wished to remain anonymous." An incident in one village sends a message in all the others. This is all about asserting power," he said. Earlier this year in Kaimrala village of Dadri, three men, Arif, Anas and Nazim, were lynched by a mob of villagers for alleged cattle smuggling.

While all of the groups claim that their main priority was 'overall development' of rural India, their spokespersons had no qualms discussing their position on issues of reservation, ban on beef and what they call 'politics of appeasement'.

"We are against cow slaughter and I have been with the movement to save cows since 2011. However our main focus is on issues faced by villagers which include lack of infrastructure, electricity and education," said Govind Choudhary, head of Samadhan Sena which has its office in Jarcha village. He also denied allegations leveled against him that he was indoctrinating the youth with right wing ideology.

Choudhary told dna that he had worked closely with the Bharatiya Janata Party's Uttar Pradesh unit and was in charge of several party activities. "I been in charge of Yuva Morcha activities and had looked over the activities of non-governmental organisations associated with the BJP, that's all," he said adding that he had nothing to do with the activities of other groups. Police also said that they had found no links of Choudhary being associated with any political party or groups other than his own group.

However two months ago, in Kalaunda village of Gautam Buddha Nagar district, a Gram Sabha was organised which saw a participation of many organisations including these three groups. This was confirmed by both Lalit Rana, head of RPS and another Gram Pradhan who requested anonymity.

"We had met only to discuss common issues faced in villages," Rana said on Friday adding that their party had different goals. He then went on to talk about how the reservation system was ruining the country. According to the his website, 'missions' of RPS include demolition of caste based reservation and Harijan Act and providing respect to the 'Swarna' community.

Subodh Kumar, SHO, Jharcha, said that the rhetoric used by these groups along with the promise of better governance can prove dangerous. A view strongly opposed by Samadhan Seva head. "Some Pradhan's and police officials are upset with me because my group is solving basic problems of people," said Choudhary whose organisation is yet to be registered.