A local court on Thursday sentenced the main accused in the Ramgopal murder case linked to communal violence here in October 2024 to death while awarding life imprisonment to nine others.
The prosecution confirmed that the prime accused, Sarfaraz, has been sentenced to death, while nine others have been sentenced to life imprisonment. Besides, a fine of Rs one lakh has been imposed on each of them.
The incident took place on October 13, 2024, when Ramgopal was murdered during the immersion of a Durga idol.
In the communal violence case of October 2024, a 28-year-old man, identified as Ram Gopal Mishra, was murdered. The verdict comes nearly 14 months after clashes erupted during the Durga idol immersion in Bahraich’s Mahsi tehsil.
Additional sessions judge (First) Pawan Kumar, who delivered the verdict found the 10 primary accused, including one Abdul Hameed and his three sons, guilty under relevant sections, including Section 103/2 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Three other accused were acquitted for lack of sufficient evidence. The case was one of the most sensitive in Bahraich in recent years. The victim’s family has demanded the death penalty for the accused.
On October 13, 2024, a dispute arose in Maharajganj Bazaar during the idol immersion procession over the playing of music. As tensions escalated, Ram Gopal, resident of Rehua Mansoor village, reportedly climbed onto a roof and removed green flags hoisted there. Moments later, he was shot dead.
The murder led to wide-spread violence, arson, and attacks on homes and shops across the Maharajganj and Mahsi region.
A total of 13 FIRs were registered at the Hardi police station and two at the Ramgaon police station. In the major crackdown that followed, police identified and arrested 13 accused.
The National Security Act was imposed on March 11, 2025 against five accused, including Abdul Hameed. Mohammad Talib alias Sabloo, Mohammad Sarfaraz Ahmed alias Rinku, Shakeel Ahmed alias Bablu and Khurshid.
Later, based on evidence, witness statements, and field reports, the district administration imposed the NSA on eight more accused on September 30, 2025.
These eight accused included Maroof Ali, Nankau, Mohammad Faheem, Mohammad Afzal alias Kallu, Mohammad Zee shan alias Raja alias Sahir, Javed, Shoaib Khan and Saif Ali, all residents of Mahsi in the Maharajganj area.