In Kawardha, Chhattisgarh, some measure of justice has been served in the brutal murder of gau sevak Sadhram Yadav. Authorities took decisive action on Thursday by demolishing a shop and other unauthorized encroachments in the front portion of the residence belonging to the prime culprit, Ayaz Khan, an Islamic extremist, in the murder of the cow shelter worker which bore grim resemblance to the barbaric beheading of Kanhaiya Lal. On Sunday, January 21, six Islamists, including a minor, were apprehended in connection with 48-year-old Sadhram Yadav’s murder.
As per a Hindustan Times report, Kabirdham Superintendent of Police (SP) Abhishek Pallav stated that a shop was illegally constructed in the front portion of Khan’s house, with no necessary permission sought from the civic body for commercial use of the residential premises. Municipal council personnel, accompanied by police officers, arrived at his residence on Thursday, January 25th, and proceeded to demolish the unauthorized construction and encroachment using a bulldozer.
Sadhram Yadav, a ‘gau sevak’ (cow shelter worker), was a revered figure in the village, known for his dedication as a herdsman at the ‘Goshala’ (cowshed). Tragically, he fell victim to a senseless act of violence. On the night of January 21, while cycling back to his village, Lalpur, on the outskirts of Kawardha, he was attacked and brutally murdered by a few Islamic extremists.
The murderers, including a minor, were identified as Sufiyaan (21), Idris (27), Ayaz (29), and Mahtab (22), all residents of Kawardha. Yadav succumbed to injuries inflicted by a slit throat in the attack carried out by these assailants.
The incident came to light the following morning when residents discovered Yadav’s lifeless body, his throat brutally slit. The motive behind the attack remains unclear, as Yadav was known to have no personal enmity with the accused or anyone in the village.
Among the individuals arrested in connection with the crime, Ayaj Khan emerged as the primary culprit, alongside five other adults. He faced the brunt of legal measures as officials demolished a shop and other illegal encroachments in the front portion of his residence.
The demolition operation, conducted by the Kawardha municipal council in collaboration with law enforcement, aimed to dismantle the unauthorized structures erected in front of Khan’s residence. Superintendent of Police Abhishek Pallava emphasized that the construction of a shop without proper authorization violated civic regulations. Emphasizing the administration’s commitment to upholding the rule of law, SP asserted that similar measures would be undertaken against individuals implicated in serious offenses in the future.
Addressing concerns about potential actions against other culprits in the murder case, SP Pallava reiterated Khan’s prime role as the mastermind behind the brutal murder. Highlighting Ayaj Khan’s criminal history, Pallava disclosed that nine prior cases, including instances of Islamic extremist violence and dacoity, had been registered against him in Kawardha. Khan was also implicated in a 2021 incident involving the removal of Hindu religious flags, further underscoring the contentious past and recurrent involvement in criminal activities by this Islamic extremist, who was likely radicalized by the religious Jamaats that operate with full impunity in our country.
In the wake of the tragedy, Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma, a native of Kawardha, extended his heartfelt condolences to the grieving family and provided financial assistance to support them during this difficult time. The Deputy CM’s visit brought some solace to the bereaved family amidst their profound sorrow. Locals, deeply affected by the loss of Yadav, have united in demanding justice for the slain Gau Sevak.
