The family of a Muslim man, who was lynched by a Hindu mob in India's Uttar Pradesh state in 2015, say they will continue their fight for justice after authorities recently sought to drop all charges against the men accused of killing him.
Mohammad Akhlaq, then 50, was beaten to death after rumours spread that he had stored and consumed beef, a claim his family continues to deny.
Slaughter of cows is a sensitive issue in India as the animal is considered sacred by Hindus, who comprise 80% of the country's 1.2 billion people. Uttar Pradesh is among the 20 states of states with strict laws banning cow slaughter and the sale and consumption of beef.
The incident, which took place in Dadri - 49km (31 miles) from capital Delhi - was the first major and widely reported case of cow-related violence in India and had sparked widespread protests.
Akhlaq's family's lawyer told BBC Hindi that 18 people were charged for various offences, including murder and rioting. All of them are out on bail.
