Dadri lynching: Cong backs Akhilesh on authenticity' of lab report

The Congress Party on Thursday backed Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav's assertion on the authenticity of a report issued by a forensic lab in Mathura, which stated that the meat recovered from the spot of the Dadri lynching belonged to a "cow or its progeny".

Read: Dadri case: New forensic report says meat found in Akhlaq’s home was beef

"The Chief Minister raising this question on the authenticity issued by a forensic lab in Mathura is correct. But there should be an enquiry in this regard. Why are there two separate reports on same issue?" Congress leader P.L Punia said to ANI.
 

Read: UP CM Akhilesh Yadav questions lab report in Dadri case

Punia further said, that a preliminary report earlier had stated that prima-facie, the meat belongs to goat progeny.

"Now the laboratory of Mathura says the meat found in Akhlaq's home was of cow or its progeny, why there are two reports in same case? The sample must have been sent by the Uttar Pradesh police. If the Chief Minister doesn't know about which sample had been sent or someone sent a separate sample in the lab, remains a matter of probe," he said.

"This should to be found out by an enquiry," he added. Punia also said that since the matter is being heard in the court, the judiciary should take a final call in this regard.

Akhilesh had earlier questioned the authenticity of a report issued by a forensic lab in Mathura, saying nothing objectionable had been found at the house of Mohammad Akhlaq, who was beaten to death following rumours of cow slaughter and beef consumption on September 28 last year.

"Where was the sample sent, who received it? There was nothing objectionable in his house. Every eye is on this matter. Everyone wants that the victim's family should get justice as a murder has taken place," Yadav said.

However, Akhilesh was slammed by the Uttar Pradesh BJP leaders including MP Adityanath and BJP state president Keshav Prasad Maurya, for questioning the authenticity of a report, saying he wants to "politically satisfy" a particular constituency.

The BJP leaders also demanded a case of cow slaughter to be registered against Akhlaq's family.