A Rajasthan court has sentenced four individuals to seven years in prison for the killing of a farmer named Rakbar Khan in 2018. The incident took place in Alwar, Rajasthan, when Rakbar and his friend Aslam were attacked by a mob of cow vigilantes on suspicion of cattle smuggling. Rakbar was fatally beaten with sticks and stones, while Aslam managed to escape.
The court found Dharmendra Yadav, Paramjeet, Vijay Kumar, and Naresh Kumar guilty of culpable homicide and wrongful restraint. However, one person, Nawal Kishore, was acquitted due to insufficient evidence against him, as stated by Ashok Sharma, the Special Public Prosecutor.
The police’s response to the incident came under scrutiny, as Rakbar Khan was reportedly taken to the hospital after a delay of approximately three hours. During this time, the police allegedly arranged for the transportation of Rakbar’s cows to a shelter, washed him to remove mud from his body, and even took a tea and snacks break.
A photograph of Rakbar Khan sitting inside a police car raised questions about the police’s involvement in the attack. The photo was circulated by Naval Kishore, the person who had alerted the police about the attack and accompanied them on their journey before Rakbar Khan was taken to the hospital. Naval Kishore had claimed that Rakbar seemed fine when he was taken to the police station, which was their last stop before reaching the hospital at 4 am.
Maya, a woman witness, had stated to NDTV that the police were beating Rakbar Khan in the vehicle and verbally abusing him. The incident sparked outrage over the alleged delay by the police in providing medical assistance to Rakbar Khan. Then Home Minister Gulab Chand Kataria ordered a judicial probe, expressing that Rakbar might have survived if he had been taken to the hospital immediately instead of taking the cows to a shelter first.
According to Rakbar Khan’s autopsy report, he died of shock caused by his injuries. The report mentioned the presence of injuries on his body and stated that internal bleeding led to his death, as explained by Dr. Rajeev Gupta, one of the doctors who conducted the autopsy.
The sentencing of the four individuals involved in Rakbar Khan’s killing serves as a reminder of the challenges posed by mob violence and vigilantism. The incident highlights the importance of upholding the rule of law, ensuring timely medical assistance, and taking effective measures to prevent such acts of violence in society.
