Madhya Pradesh: 14 sentenced to life imprisonment in Narmadapuram mob lynching case; convicts' families protest
A court has sentenced 14 people to life imprisonment in a high-profile mob lynching case that occurred in Seoni Malwa, Narmadapuram district, Madhya Pradesh, over suspected cattle smuggling.
In this case, dating back nearly four years, Nazir Ahmed—a resident of Amravati, Maharashtra—died after he was beaten up by a mob.
Delivering the verdict on Friday, the court of Additional District and Sessions Judge (ADJ) Tabassum Khan convicted all 14 accused on various charges, including murder, attempted murder, rioting, and wrongful restraint.
Family members lay down in front of the police vehicle
Tension prevailed in the court premises following the verdict. Family members of the convicts, present in large numbers, protested against the sentencing. As the police began taking the convicts to jail, some family members lay down in front of the police vehicle in an attempt to stop it.
A scuffle ensued between the police and the family members. The situation was later brought under control with the help of additional police force, and the convicts were sent to jail.
The convicts' families claim that their kin had arrived at the scene with the intention of protecting cows (gau-seva) and have been handed a harsh punishment unjustly.
The case?
The incident took place in August 2022. According to the police, a truck en route to Amravati, Maharashtra, was intercepted near Barakhad village in Seoni Malwa.
The truck was carrying approximately 30 cattle. It is alleged that a mob—comprising villagers and individuals identifying as cow vigilantes—surrounded the three occupants of the truck and began beating them with sticks and clubs.
Sheikh Lala, the truck driver who was injured in the attack, told the police that a mob of 50 to 60 people was present on the road. According to him, the mob forced the truck to stop and began the assault without any questioning.
He alleged that the mob continued the attack until they were critically injured. Following the incident, the police rushed the three injured individuals to the hospital, where Nazir Ahmed succumbed to his injuries.
A video of the incident also surfaced, showing a mob attacking the occupants of a truck with sticks and clubs. Some individuals were also seen intervening, which helped save the lives of the other two people.