What Happened in the 2018 Bulandshahr Violence Case?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Five convicts received life sentences for murder.
- Thirty-three rioters were sentenced to seven years.
- The violence was sparked by cow carcass recovery.
- The incident resulted in two tragic deaths.
- Robust legal action was taken against the accused.
Bulandshahr (Uttar Pradesh), Aug 1 (NationPress) – An Uttar Pradesh court has handed down life sentences to five individuals convicted of murder and imposed seven-year prison terms on 33 others involved in the violence that transpired in 2018. This incident resulted in the tragic deaths of a police inspector and a young villager following the alleged discovery of cow carcasses in Bulandshahr district.
Amidst heightened security measures, Additional District and Sessions Judge Gopal Ji delivered the verdict to a total of 38 individuals—five found guilty of murder and the others charged with rioting and attempted murder—in a crowded courtroom.
According to defense attorney Ashok Dagar, "The five accused were convicted under IPC Section 302, resulting in life sentences. The remaining individuals faced convictions under IPC Sections 307, 436, 332, and 353 for rioting and related offenses, receiving seven-year sentences."
The 33 individuals sentenced to seven years were found guilty of attempting to murder, intentionally causing harm to a public servant, and committing mischief by fire, as detailed by the lawyer.
The five murder convicts identified during the trial are Rahul, David, Prashant Nat, Lokendra Singh, and Johnny, all of whom hail from Chingrawathi village within the jurisdiction of Syana Police Station.
During the ruling on July 30, the court downgraded the charges against two defendants from murder to attempted murder and rioting. This group includes a local Bajrang Dal leader, Yogesh Raj, and a former member of the Rashtriya Rifles, Jeetendra Malik.
In total, 44 individuals faced charges from law enforcement following the incident, with five of those accused passing away during the trial, while a minor was released earlier.
This case stems from the events of December 3, 2018, when Police Inspector Subodh Kumar Singh and villager Sumit Kumar were killed amid rioting and arson triggered by the alleged recovery of cow carcasses in the nearby Mahaw village.
During the chaos, enraged demonstrators set vehicles ablaze and torched a police outpost. Inspector Subodh Kumar Singh succumbed to gunshot injuries while attempting to restore order amidst the mob.