- विज्ञापन -
Bihar: A district court in Begusarai, Bihar, sentenced 12 individuals, including a notable political figure, to life imprisonment for their involvement in a double murder case that dates back 20 years. The accused include Mithilesh Singh, along with Roshan Singh, Ravindra Singh, Randhir Kumar alias Dukha, Sunil Singh, Sudhir Singh, Sanjeev Singh, Komal Singh, Shaligram Singh, Anil Singh, Manoj Singh, and Ranjit Singh, all from Akbarpur Purani Deeh, under the Shamho police station’s jurisdiction.
The verdict was announced by Additional District and Sessions Judge Shaba Alam on November 21. Initially, in 2015, the district court had acquitted all the accused. However, the victims’ family appealed this decision in the Patna High Court, which reopened the case and mandated a resolution within four months. The accused then sought intervention from the Supreme Court, which upheld the High Court’s directive.
The case originated from a tragic incident in Akbarpur Purani Deeh village, where Congress leader and PACS president Lalan Singh and his cousin Sipul Singh were allegedly shot dead on March 8, 2004, while returning from distributing relief materials to fire victims. Mukesh Singh, their brother, reported the incident at Nayagaon police station, stating that the accused ambushed them, although he managed to escape.
The motive for the murders was rooted in political rivalry, as Lalan and Mithilesh Singh had competed against each other in PACS and Zilla Parishad elections. While Lalan won the PACS election, both candidates lost in the Zilla Parishad election, leading to increased tensions that eventually escalated into a land dispute.
The recent ruling marks a significant legal milestone, as it is the first instance where a district court has reversed a previous acquittal and imposed life sentences after reopening a case. Additional Public Prosecutor Dilip Kushwaha described the decision as historic and unprecedented, emphasizing the political motivations behind the crime and the underlying land disputes.
