Moradabad lynching over ‘cattle slaughter’: Victim’s associate held

Police have made no arrest in the second FIR in the case — against unidentified persons on the charge of murder — that was registered on a complaint by the brother of Mohammad Shahidin Qureshi, the deceased.

Qureshi was admitted to the Moradabad district hospital with critical injuries. He succumbed to his injuries at 4.30 pm on Monday, police said.

Days after a mob fatally attacked a 37-year-old man on the suspicion of slaughtering cattle in Uttar Pradesh’s Moradabad, police Wednesday arrested his associate who was allegedly with him at the time of the assault.

Police have made no arrest in the second FIR in the case — against unidentified persons on the charge of murder — that was registered on a complaint by the brother of Mohammad Shahidin Qureshi, the deceased.

“We took suo motu cognisance and registered an FIR against Qureshi and Mohammad Adnan (29) for cow slaughter,” said Majhola Station House Officer Mohit Chaudhary.

Chaudhary said Adnan had fled the spot after locals found them slaughtering an ox in the early hours of December 30.

Qureshi was admitted to the Moradabad district hospital with critical injuries. He succumbed to his injuries at 4.30 pm on Monday, police said.

“As of now we have not been able to arrest anybody (in the case of Qureshi’s killing),” said Additional Superintendent of Police Kumar Ran Vijay Singh. Another police officer said they had collected video footage and were working to identify those involved in the assault.

Singh claimed that Adnan admitted to killing an ox during interrogation. Qureshi’s wife, Rizwana, 35, said that Qureshi had left early on Monday.

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“I am a heart patient. I woke up at 2 am to take my medicine as usual. At 3 am, my husband got ready to head out. He told me that he was going for some work and would be back soon so I went back to sleep,” she recalled.

Two hours later, she started calling her husband, but got no answer. “After an hour, someone called me back from his phone and informed me that they had found this phone at Majhola Mandi,” she said.

At around 11 am, she said, the police reached their home and informed the family that Qureshi was admitted to the hospital.

“When we reached the hospital, he was bleeding from his nose, his left eye was swollen and he was gasping for breath,” said Masooma Jamal, 43, Qureshi’s sister-in-law. Jamal said they took him to a private hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival.

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“This was no age to die. Is the value of human life so less today? Even if he killed an animal, they could have called the police. He could have been in jail, but why did people beat him up so badly that he died,” asked Jamal.

“Who will look after me? My children are so young, my in-laws are dead, where will I go?” said Rizwana.

Family members said Qureshi made a living by transporting goods on rented hand carts. They said he had to pause his work six months ago owing to health issues, forcing his sons aged 14 and 15 to take up tailoring work. Rizwana and Qureshi also have a 10-year-old daughter.

Neetika Jha

Neetika Jha is a Correspondent with The Indian Express, based in the Noida bureau. She primarily covers crime, health, and environmental issues, as well as human-interest features across Noida, Ghaziabad, and Western Uttar Pradesh. Professional Profile Education: She is an alumna of the Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), Chennai. Core Beat: Her work focuses on the administrative and social challenges of the NCR's satellite cities. She is known for her detailed reporting on civic infrastructure (like the Noida International Airport), environmental violations, and high-profile criminal investigations. Personal Interests: Outside of reporting, she is an avid reader of fiction (citing The Thursday Murder Club and Yellowface as recent favorites) and a gardening enthusiast. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Neetika’s recent reportage has been dominated by winter-related crises in the NCR and significant criminal legalities: 1. Environment & Public Safety "Greater Noida Authority slaps fines on firms for violating GRAP IV norms" (Dec 21, 2025): Reporting on heavy penalties imposed on major developers like NBCC for flouting anti-pollution construction bans. "Fatal pile-up on Yamuna Expressway: Fog, high speed emerge as key safety risks" (Dec 17, 2025): A major report on a 15-vehicle collision caused by dense fog that killed 17 people. "At Chilla, Kalindi, DND, many fined Rs 20,000 for non-compliance to Delhi's BS-VI rule" (Dec 19, 2025): On-the-ground reporting from the borders where Noida police penalize non-compliant vehicles entering the capital. "Driving in Noida amid fog? New speed limits in effect till Feb 15" (Dec 13, 2025): Detailing the seasonal traffic restrictions aimed at preventing highway accidents. 2. Crime & Legal Developments "'Have you ever heard of a murder case being withdrawn?': Court in Akhlaq lynching case" (Dec 12, 2025): Covering a critical courtroom hearing where the court questioned the UP government's petition to withdraw charges against the accused. "After losing money in stock market, bank employee in Ghaziabad withdraws Rs 64 lakh from customers' accounts" (Dec 14, 2025): An investigative piece on internal bank fraud and the risks of modern digital embezzlement. "Woman shot dead by partner in Noida: Three days on, accused still on the run" (Dec 2, 2025): Tracking a high-profile domestic violence and murder case in Central Noida. 3. Human Interest & Features "'Had tears in my eyes': Army men walk bride down the aisle 20 years after father died in terror attack" (Dec 2, 2025): A moving story about soldiers from a Punjab Grenadiers unit fulfilling a father's duty for his daughter. "How a Zepto delivery man heard a cry — and saved two kids dumped in Noida drain" (Dec 2025): A viral human-interest story highlighting individual heroism in the city. Signature Style Neetika is recognized for her meticulous follow-up on local tragedies. Whether it is a massive pile-up on the Yamuna Expressway or the ongoing construction of the Jewar (Noida) Airport, she focuses on systemic lapses and the safety of commuters. Her crime reporting often explores the psychological motives behind "crimes of passion" and the rising trend of financial cyber-fraud in the Ghaziabad-Noida belt. ... Read More

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