Maharajganj homicide verdict: Following a communal dispute, the court imposes nine life sentences and one death sentence
Maharajganj homicide verdict: In the Maharajganj communal violence case, which was connected to a murder that occurred during a Durga idol immersion procession last year, a local court in Uttar Pradesh rendered a significant decision on Thursday. For the October 13, 2024, murder of Ramgopal Mishra, 21, the court condemned one accused person to death and nine others to life in prison. Ten individuals, including Sarfaraz, Abdul Hameed, Mohammad Talib, Faheem, Zeeshan, Mohammad Saif, Javed, Soeb Khan, Nankau, and Maroof Ali, were found guilty on December 9 by the court of Additional Sessions Judge, First, Pawan Kumar Sharma, according to District Government Counsel (Criminal) Girish Chandra Shukla. Because there was insufficient evidence, Khurshid, Shakeel, and Afzal were acquitted.
Sarfaraz, who fired the fatal shot, was given the death penalty by the court on Thursday, while the other nine prisoners were given life sentences.
The Case’s History
On the night of the murder, 13 people were identified in the FIR. Eleven of them were caught over the next several months, and two of them were killed in a police engagement while trying to escape. On January 11, 2025, a chargesheet was submitted against all 13, and on February 18, charges were formulated. The court found eleven guilty and found three not guilty on December 9. According to Shukla, the murder accusation is related to the punishment on Thursday. Other offenses have also resulted in further jail time and fines.
Administration’s reaction to violence
In Mahsi, Maharajganj, and many areas of Bahraich, the murder caused considerable rioting. As police attempted to manage the scene, allegations of damage and arson surfaced the next day. To supervise peace and order, senior officials were sent, including STF Chief Amitabh Yash and Home Secretary Sanjeev Gupta. PAC, RRF, STF, and police units from nearby districts were heavily deployed, and internet connections were stopped across the district to assist bring about calm.
NSA allegations and government action
When Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath visited Mishra’s family in Lucknow, he promised them justice, financial support, and a government position for the victim’s widow. After the police investigation, all 13 of the suspects were booked under the National Security Act. Five of the accused were the subject of NSA procedures in March 2025, while the other eight were the subject of proceedings in September. After being found guilty on December 9, Saif and Shoeb, who had been released on bond, were returned to detention.