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NEW DELHI: A local court on Thursday sentenced one person to death and awarded life imprisonment to nine others for the murder committed during communal violence last year in Maharajganj town during a Durga idol immersion procession.The violence took place on October 13 last year, when 21-year-old Ramgopal Mishra was shot dead as a communal clash erupted in the mixed-population area of Maharajganj. The incident triggered widespread tension in Mahsi, Maharajganj and parts of Bahraich city. Large-scale vandalism and arson were reported the next day, prompting an extensive police response. Home Secretary Sanjeev Gupta and STF Chief and ADG (Law & Order) Amitabh Yash were rushed to restore order, while internet services were suspended and heavy deployment of PAC, RRF, STF and police forces from neighbouring districts was made.Thirteen people had been named as accused in the FIR. Two of them were killed in a police encounter while fleeing, and the remaining were arrested over time. A chargesheet against all 13 was filed on January 11, 2025, and charges were framed on February 18.District Government Counsel (Criminal) Girish Chandra Shukla said the court of Additional Sessions Judge, First, Pawan Kumar Sharma had on December 9 convicted Sarfaraz, Abdul Hameed, Mohammad Talib, Faheem, Zeeshan, Mohammad Saif, Javed, Soeb Khan, Nankau and Maroof Ali. Khurshid, Shakeel and Afzal were acquitted for lack of evidence.On Thursday, the judge sentenced Sarfaraz, the man who fired the fatal shot, to death and awarded life imprisonment to the remaining nine convicts. Shukla said the sentences relate to the murder charge, and that imprisonment and fines have also been imposed under other offences.All 13 accused had been booked under the National Security Act based on the police investigation report. NSA proceedings were invoked against five in March 2025 and against eight others in September. Saif and Shoeb, who had been out on bail, were remanded to custody again after their conviction on December 9.Following the killing, chief minister Yogi Adityanath met Mishra’s family in Lucknow, assured them of justice, and extended financial assistance along with a government job to the victim’s widow.
