New Delhi

A Court in Narmadapuram, Madhya Pradesh, sentenced 14 men to life imprisonment for the 2022 mob lynching of truck driver Nazir Ahmad.

The victim was attacked with sticks and rods on suspicion of cattle smuggling. The court labelled the assault "extreme brutality".

It was on the night of August 2-3, 2022, truck transporting cattle from Amravati (Maharashtra) was intercepted near Barakhad village in the Seoni Malwa area. A mob dragged the occupants out and severely beat them.

Truck driver Nazir Ahmad succumbed to his injuries while receiving treatment. Two other occupants, Sheikh Lala and Sayyad Mushtaq, survived the assault with grievous injuries.

The convicts include Deepak alias Baba Kevat, Ajay alias Ajju Rathore, Prakash Kaushal, Chetan Maratha, Pawan Bathav, Amar alias Bhola Bathav, Kanhaiya Bathav, Devendra alias Chhotu Kori, Sandeep alias Raja Kaushal, Anuj alias Ballu Raghuvanshi, Sanju alias Rajendra Kaushal, Akash alias Pintoli Bathav, Gaurav Yadav and Akash Sarathe.

The Sessions Court held that the prosecution had successfully established beyond reasonable doubt that the accused persons participated in the violent assault that resulted in the death of Nazir Ahmad and caused grievous injuries to two other individuals travelling with him. The judgment observed that the deceased was subjected to extreme brutality during the attack.

Following information about the assault, police personnel reached the spot and shifted the injured victims to a hospital for medical treatment. Nazir later succumbed to his injuries during treatment, while the other two injured occupants survived.

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After evaluating the oral testimonies, documentary evidence and other material placed on record, the court concluded that the prosecution had proved the guilt of the accused beyond reasonable doubt and convicted all 14 individuals. The court subsequently imposed the sentence of life imprisonment.