Lynched 2 years ago, Pehlu Khan chargesheeted for cow smuggling

According to reports, the chargesheet posthumously accuses Khan under Sections 5, 8 and 9 of the Rajasthan Bovine Animal (Prohibition of Slaughter and Regulation of Temporary Migration or Export) Act, 1995 and Rules, 1995.

His sons, Irshad and Aarif, have also been charged under the sections.

Incidentally, the chargesheet was prepared on December 30, days after the Congress government came to power in Rajasthan.

Meanwhile, Irshad (25), said, "We lost our father in the attack by cow vigilantes and now we have been charged as cow smugglers."

"We had hoped the new Congress government in Rajasthan would review and withdraw the case against us, but now a chargesheet has been filed against us. We hoped for justice after the government change but that didn't happen," he added.

To recall, in 2017, Pehlu Khan (55)- a resident of Jaisinghpur village, Mewat- and his two sons were transporting cows, allegedly without permission.

The cows were bought at a Jaipur cattle fair and were being driven to their home in Haryana via the Jaipur-Delhi National Highway, when they were stopped by a cow vigilante mob and thrashed.

Khan died in hospital two days later.

Notably, two trucks were attacked on the fateful day: one with Khan and his sons, owned by Khan Mohammed; and another owned by Jagdish Prasad, driven by Arjun.

Last year, Rajasthan's former BJP government had filed a similar chargesheet against Azmat and Rafique, who were aboard the second truck.

Meanwhile, the eight accused in Khan's lynching are out on bail, and two remain untraceable.