On July 5, a court in Jharkhand’s Seraikela-Kharswan district sentenced the 10 accused in the Tabrez Ansari lynching case of 2019 to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment under Section 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). A fine of Rs 15,000 have also been imposed on the convicts.
On June 27, Amit Shekhar, District Judge, Additional Sessions Judge, and POCSO special judge, had delivered the judgment convicting the said 10 accused of culpable homicide not amounting to murder. It is essential to note that one of the accused, Kushal Mahali, had died during the course of trial, and two others were acquitted for lack of evidence.
The said conviction and sentencing came 4 years after the said incident of mob lynching took place. The convicted persons have been identified as: Bhim Singh Munda, Kamal Mahato, Madan Nayak, Atul Mahali, Sunamo Pradhan, Vikram Mandal, Chamu Nayak, Prem Chand Mahali, Mahesh Mahali.
Background of the incident:
Ansari was assaulted in the early hours of June 18, 2019, in Saraikela Kharsawan’s Dhatkidih hamlet. Ansari, who was in court detention for stealing, complained of nausea, vomiting, and chest pain on June 22 morning. As he fell unconscious, he was first taken to Sadar Hospital, and then to Tata Main Hospital in Jamshedpur, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. He worked as a labourer and welder in Pune and had come home to celebrate Eid.
A video of the incident that had emerged on social media showed a mob beating Ansari and asking him to chant religious slogans. The young man was seen chanting, and pleading with the mob to stop the assault.
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