Lynching of Qasim Qureshi
| Date | 18 June 2018 |
|---|---|
| Location | Bajhera Khurd, Pilkhuwa |
| District | Hapur |
| State | Uttar Pradesh |
| Coordinates | 28.7120°N 77.6545°E View on OpenStreetMap |
| Victims |
|
| Killed | 1 |
| Injured | 1 |
| Alleged trigger | Cow slaughter |
| Allegation | False rumour that the two men were slaughtering a cow in a field at Bajhera Khurd |
| Legal status | In March 2024 a sessions court in Hapur convicted ten men of murder and attempted murder and sentenced them to life imprisonment |
Qasim Qureshi, a 45-year-old trader, was killed and Samiuddin, an older man, was injured when a mob attacked them at Bajhera Khurd village in Hapur district, Uttar Pradesh, on 18 June 2018, following a rumour of cow slaughter.[1][2] The victims' families alleged that police recorded the incident as road rage, and the Supreme Court later ordered a senior officer to supervise the investigation.[1] In March 2024 a court in Hapur sentenced ten men to life imprisonment.[3]
Incident
On 18 June 2018 a mob of 20 to 25 people attacked Qasim and Samiuddin at Bajhera Khurd village on suspicion of cow slaughter.[2] Qasim died of his injuries, while Samiuddin survived.[1] A video that circulated afterwards showed Samiuddin, bleeding from the head, being made to say that he had been slaughtering a cow; Deccan Chronicle noted that the video's authenticity could not be independently confirmed.[4]
A photograph that circulated on social media showed Qasim being dragged along the ground in the presence of policemen.[4] Uttar Pradesh Police apologised on Twitter, and said three personnel had acted in the heat of the moment to get the dying man to hospital; an inquiry was started against the officers involved.[4][3]
Investigation and legal proceedings
The victims' families and lawyers alleged that police had registered the first information report as a road rage case over right of way for motorcycles, rather than as a mob lynching.[4][1] Samiuddin's brother alleged that police had threatened to implicate the family in a cow slaughter case unless they signed it, and Samiuddin said police had not come to record his statement.[2] Police filed a case against nearly two dozen people; the main accused was arrested and later released on bail.[5]
Samiuddin petitioned the Supreme Court seeking an impartial investigation.[1] In September 2018 the court directed the Inspector General of Police, Meerut Range, to supervise the probe in line with its guidelines on mob lynching in the Tehseen Poonawalla judgment.[1] The state told the court it had transferred the station house officer concerned and had appealed against the bail granted to some accused.[1] In May 2019 the court allowed the petitioners to place fresh witness statements before the trial court.[5]
On 12 March 2024 the Additional Sessions Judge in Hapur convicted all ten accused under Indian Penal Code sections 302 and 307 read with 149, 147, 148 and 153A, and sentenced each to life imprisonment and a fine of Rs 58,000.[3][6] The victims' families had not sought the death penalty and said they wanted only justice.[3]
Reactions
The families of both victims held a press conference in Delhi in June 2018, where they alleged that police were trying to recast the incident as a road rage case.[4] Samiuddin was represented in the Supreme Court and in the trial by a legal team that included advocate Vrinda Grover.[1][3]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 "Supervise Probe In Hapur Lynching Case: SC To Hapur IGP [Read Order]". LiveLaw. 5 September 2018. Retrieved 31 October 2026.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Asmita Nandy. "Hapur Lynching: Gau Rakshaks, Police Apathy & A Survivor's Ordeal". The Quint. 14 July 2018. Retrieved 31 October 2026.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 "2018 Hapur Lynching Case : UP Trial Court Finds 10 Persons Guilty, Sentences Them To Life". LiveLaw. 12 March 2024. Retrieved 31 October 2026.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 "New video of Hapur lynching shows man forced to confess 'cow slaughter'". Deccan Chronicle. 23 June 2018. Retrieved 31 October 2026.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Hapur lynching case: Supreme Court allows petitioners to approach trial court on fresh statements". Scroll.in. 28 May 2019. Retrieved 31 October 2026.
- ↑ "UP Court Convicts Ten Men for 2018 Lynching of Muslim Man on Fake Rumours of Cow Slaughter". The Wire. March 2024. Retrieved 31 October 2026.