Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh
In a decisive ruling on one of Uttar Pradesh’s most controversial communal violence cases, a local court on Friday handed life imprisonment to five individuals for their direct involvement in the murder of Inspector Subodh Kumar during the 2018 Syana mob violence incident.
The case, which drew national outrage, was triggered by alleged cow slaughter and spiraled into deadly clashes.
In addition to the five who received life sentences, the court also sentenced 33 others to seven years in prison for their roles in rioting, arson, unlawful assembly, and attempted murder.
The verdict was delivered by the Special Court of Additional District Judge (12), Gopal Ji, following the conviction of all 38 accused on Wednesday. The court announced the quantum of punishment on Friday after examining the nature of the crimes and the extent of individual roles in the violence.
Key Sentences:
- Life Imprisonment with a ₹20,000 fine each for:
- Prashant Nat
- David
- Joni
- Rahul
- Lokendra
- Seven Years’ Rigorous Imprisonment and a ₹2,000 fine each for the remaining 33 convicts.
According to government counsel Yashpal Raghav, 80% of the total fines collected from the convicts will be awarded to Inspector Subodh Kumar’s widow as compensation for her irreparable loss.
Convicts Include Politically Connected Individuals:
The individuals convicted include a district panchayat member, a village pradhan (head), and several political functionaries linked to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Nishad Party, and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), reflecting the political overtones that surrounded the case from the outset.
The Incident: A Timeline of Mob Fury
The violence occurred on December 3, 2018, in Mahav village, under the jurisdiction of Syana police station, when remains of slaughtered cattle were found, triggering outrage and unrest in the communally sensitive region.
According to police investigations, Yogesh Raj, a prominent right-wing figure, along with his associates, mobilized a large group of villagers and activists.
The mob, carrying the remains of the slaughtered cattle on a tractor-trolley, marched to the Chingrawathi police outpost, where they blocked the Bulandshahr highway and began demanding immediate action.
Tensions escalated rapidly when police intervened to clear the highway. The enraged mob resorted to stone pelting, vandalism, and ultimately set the police outpost ablaze.
During the mayhem, Inspector Subodh Kumar—who was leading efforts to bring the situation under control—was fatally shot.
He succumbed to his injuries at the scene. Another casualty was Sumit, a local youth, who also died from gunshot wounds during the violence.
Legal Proceedings and Aftermath:
Initially, the police had filed charges against 44 individuals. However, throughout the legal process:
- Five accused died
- One minor’s case was separated and is currently being heard in juvenile court.
To defuse the communal tension in the immediate aftermath of the violence, the police also filed cow slaughter cases against 10 individuals, a move seen as crucial in preventing further unrest in the area.
The Syana violence case became a flashpoint in debates around mob vigilantism, cow protection politics, and the increasing attacks on law enforcement officials caught between the rising tide of communal aggression and the burden of maintaining peace.
The verdict, which brings a sense of closure to the family of Inspector Subodh Kumar and the broader community, is being hailed as a strong reaffirmation of justice and a stern warning against mob violence and political shielding.
#SyanaVerdict #SubodhKumar #MobJustice #UPRiots #CowSlaughterPolitics #LawAndOrder #MobLynching #CommunalViolence #JusticeDelivered #BulandshahrCase #PoliticalViolence #YogeshRaj #PoliceMartyr #RuleOfLaw #RSS #BJP #NishadParty