New Delhi, Dec. 24 -- Congress leader Supriya Shrinate said that the 2015 lynching of Akhlaq by a mob was compounded by the Uttar Pradesh government's attempt to withdraw the case.

She added that the court has taken the right step by allowing the trial to continue for both murder and rioting, asserting that Akhlaq's death was caused by a mob that enjoyed government protection.

A Noida court on Tuesday rejected the Uttar Pradesh government's plea to withdraw the case against the accused in the 2015 Akhlaq lynching case.

Reacting to the court's decision, Congress leader Supriya Shrinate said, "In 2015, Akhlaq was beaten to death by a mob. His second murder was committed by the Uttar Pradesh government when they went to court and said the...