Jharkhand Lynching Case: 11 ‘Gau Rakshaks’ Get Life Imprisonment

This is said to be India’s 1st conviction in a case related to violence perpetrated in the name of cow vigilantism.

Alimuddin Ansari was made to pose for photos while he was being beaten. On the right is the Maruti van that was burnt on 29 June 2017.

(Photo: Aishwarya S Iyer/The Quint)

A fast-track court in Jharkhand, on Wednesday, 21 March, sentenced 11 ‘gau rakshaks’ to life imprisonment for the murder of meat trader Alimuddin in Ramgarh on 29 June 2017. BJP district media in-charge Nityanand Mahto was among the 11 convicted persons.

On 16 March, the court held 11 out of the 12 guilty in what is reported to be the first conviction in a case relating to violence perpetrated in the name of cow protection in the country.

One of the 12 accused is a minor, said Additional Publci Prosecutor SK Shukla. According to PTI, the prosecution has asked the Juvenile Justice Board to treat the minor as an adult in this case.

Judge Om Prakash found them guilty under IPC sections 147 (rioting), 148 (rioting with deadly weapons), 149 (unlawful assembly), 435 (mischief by fire or explosive substance) and 302 (murder), reported PTI.

In June 2017, Alimuddin, alias Asgar Ansari, was lynched and his vehicle was set ablaze by a mob at Bazartand village near Ranchi.

According to The Wire, the defence plans to appeal the conviction soon.

According to The Indian Express, accused Raj Kumar followed Ansari when he left the market 15 km away from Ramgarh at 7:30 am on 29 June. He kept the other accused informed about Ansari’s movements for the next two hours. Ansari’s vehicle was then halted at around 9:30 am near Bazar Tand, where he was attacked and his vehicle was gutted.

More than a dozen people, including eight from the Bajrang Dal and local BJP unit, were arrested, The Indian Express reported.

Ansari’s wife, Mariam Khatoon told the media that she was certain that “murder was committed by “rogues owing allegiance to” the Bajrang Dal, The Wire report added.

(With inputs from The Wire, Indian Express)