From the forensic report it is now clear that the meat retrieved from Akhlaq’s house was beef. How much of this would impact the Court proceedings is rather difficult to ascertain but this is likely to have a political fallout. The narratives would be drawn once again on communal lines. Every attempt would be made to polarise the electorate. However even if the meat is that of a cow, there is no justification in his being beaten to death. The culprits need to be severely punished since this gruesome incident has maligned our country’s name worldwide.