Jharkhand: 11 Gau Rakshaks Who Lynched Alimuddin Last Year, Convicted Of Murder & Conspiracy
Courtesy: The Wire�| Image Credit: The Wire

Jharkhand: 11 'Gau Rakshaks' Who Lynched Alimuddin Last Year, Convicted Of Murder & Conspiracy

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In the first convictions of Gau Rakshaks, a trial court in Jharkhand today convicted all the 11 persons responsible for the lynching of Alimuddin last year in June. This is the first time “Cow Vigilantes” have been convicted of their crimes. Their sentencing will take place on March 20, reports The Wire.

The Court was convinced that the attack was pre-planned. Hence, out of the 11, three of them were charged with criminal conspiracy and the rest were charged under IPC Section 302 (murder).

The Wire spoke to the lawyers of the accused and they said that they are planning to file a plea in a higher court soon.


Background

A man accused of carrying beef was beaten to death in Ramgarh district on June 30. The deceased, Alimuddin alias Asgar Ansari, was allegedly carrying the “banned meat” in a Maruti van when a self-acclaimed mob of Gau Rakshaks stopped him near Bajartand village. He was brutally attacked and his van was set on fire, said the police.

The police personnel took him to a hospital, but Asgar died during treatment. The murder was premeditated, as per Additional Director General of Police R K Mallik. “Asgar was charge-sheeted for child abduction and murder,” the officer said, adding that some people involved in beef trade hatched a conspiracy to kill him.

The police could not confirm if Asgar was carrying beef. The women of the village in Ramgarh district, as reported by The Citizen, came out in support of the grieving and terrified wife and children of the 50-year-old driver Alimuddin. They formed a front line, refusing to accept the dead body in a night-long standoff with the cops, demanding the police register an FIR and arrest the guilty first. Unprepared for the protest, the cops left without the body and came back with Rs 2 lakh compensation to Alimuddin’s widow. However, the women refused the money and demanded justice instead.


The Logical Indian take

Although the accused’s lawyer has said that he is going to further appeal in a higher court, it is relieving to see that justice has been served to the family. People from all strata of life need to be educated and made aware of the evils of discrimination on the basis of caste or creed. Lynching needs to be stopped.

Hopefully, many others who were lynched, Akhlaq, Junaid, Pehlu Khan will also get justice.

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Editor : Poorbita Bagchi

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