Indian mob killed 50 years old muslim Mohammad Akhlaq over beef rumours

A 50-year-old man, Mohammad Akhlaq, was killed in a mob lynching in Dadri, located in Uttar Pradesh, after rumours circulated that his family had been storing and consuming beef, police and local media reported.

The murder took place on the night of September 28, 2015, in the village of Bisahda near Dadri, Uttar Pradesh, India. The attack took place on Monday night when a group of men allegedly broke into Akhlaq’s home, beating him with stones and bricks before dragging him outside and continuing the assault. His 22-year-old son was also severely injured and remains hospitalised.

His 18-year-old daughter Sajida told the newspaper that a "group of more than 100 people from the village" reached the house on Monday night.They broke down our doors and started beating my father and brother. My father was dragged outside the house and beaten with bricks".

"We had come to know later that an announcement had been made from the temple about us eating beef...There was some mutton in the fridge...The police have taken it for examination."

According to police, six people have been arrested in connection with the killing, and authorities are investigating who initially spread the rumour. Senior local official NP Singh told The Indian Express that false claims about cow slaughter led to the violent attack. Another senior officer, Kiran S, told AFP that an announcement accusing the family of eating beef was made from a local temple.

Akhlaq’s family has denied the allegations, stating that the meat found in their refrigerator was mutton, not beef. Police have seized the meat and sent it for forensic testing.

The incident occurred about 50 kilometres from New Delhi, highlighting growing concerns over mob violence linked to cow protection. In India, cows are considered sacred by the Hindu majority, and 11 states, including Uttar Pradesh, along with two union territories, ban cow slaughter.

Following the arrests, reports said local villagers clashed with police and vandalised vehicles in protest. Rights groups and opposition figures have repeatedly warned that stricter cow-protection laws and inflammatory rumours have contributed to a rise in vigilante violence.

The case has reignited national debate over religious intolerance, rule of law, and personal freedoms in India.