First Sentencing in Cow Vigilante Violence: 11 in Jharkhand Get Life Imprisonment For Lynching Alimuddin Ansari
Ansari's lynching on June 29, 2017 drew flak towards the Raghubar Das-led government in Jharkhand as it came two days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi had asked the state governments to take stern action against the violent gau rakshaks.
Ranchi, Mar 21: A court in Ramgarh on Wednesday sentenced 11 of the 12 convicted for the murder of Alimuddin Ansari to life imprisonment. This marks the first sentencing in the case involving gau rakshaks or the self-styled cow vigilantes.
Ansari, 55, was publicly lynched nearly nine months ago in Ramgarh on suspicion of smuggling beef.
Among his murderers include, three members of the local 'gau raksha samiti' – identified as Santosh Singh, Deepak Mishra and Chhotu Vermaand, and a district-level Bharatiya Janata Party leader Nitayanand Mahto.
During the hearing in the courtroom today, the prosecution sought death penalty for the accused, citing the conspiracy hatched to kill the victim. The defence, however, appealed for leniency, arguing that this is the first crime registered against the convicts.
The victim's family expressed satisfaction with the court order. "We are satisfied with the verdict. Justice has been done to my father," said Shahban Ansari, younger son of Ansari, while speaking to the reporters.
The bench headed by Additional Judge Om Prakash, apart from pronouncing the quantum of punishment, also directed District Legal Services Authority to ensure adequate compensation for the immediate kin of Ansari.
The deceased's family member have appealed the government to ensure a high amount of compensation as Ansari was the sole-breadwinner in the house.
Ansari's lynching on June 29, 2017 drew flak towards the Raghubar Das-led government in Jharkhand as it came two days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi had asked the state governments to take stern action against the violent gau rakshaks.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 21, 2018 06:40 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).