In the first ever prosecution in a case of lynching over cow vigilantism, a fast track court in Jharkhand sentenced 11 people to life imprisonment on Wednesday. Among those awarded punishment is BJP leader Nityanand Mahto.

All of them have been found guilty of lynching 55-year-old Alimuddin alias Asgar Ansari to death near Bajartand village on 29 June 2017 for allegedly carrying beef meat in a Maruti van. After beating Alimuddin, the guilty had set fire to his van.

A video of the lynching had gone viral on social media.

An FIR was filed by Alimuddin's wife, Mariyam Khatoon, against 17 people. The police filed a chargesheet against 12, including a minor.

According to reports, the prosecution has requested that the minor be treated as an adult as he is over 16. This plea is pending with the Juvenile Justice Board.

Monitored by the Jharkhand High Court, the trial saw 19 witnesses and 59 documents presented by the prosecution.

On 16 March, the court had held the 11 people guilty and said set 21 March as the date when the quantum of punishment would be announced.

While the prosecution demanded capital punishment for the guilty, the defence pleaded for minimum punishment because the guilty had no criminal background.

The incident was one of the many similar cases reported from across the country. People were beaten up of killed over suspicion of carrying beef or smuggling cows for slaughter.



Copyright: The Statesman/ Asia News Network