2024 Bahraich Riots: Prime Accused Sarfaraz Gets Death Penalty, 9 Others Get Life Imprisonment.

Bahraich Court Delivers Landmark Verdict in Ramgopal Mishra Murder Case, Prime Accused Sarfaraz Sentenced To Death, 9 Others Get Life Imprisonment.

Upendra Bharti | HENB | Lucknow | Dec 11, 2025:: On Thursday evening, a Bahraich court has handed down a significant judgment in the high-profile murder case of Ramgopal Mishra, a devotee who was shot dead during a Durga idol immersion procession in Maharajganj market on October 13, 2024. The court’s verdict has brought a sense of closure to the victim’s family, with the main accused, Sarfaraz, being sentenced to death and nine others receiving life imprisonment.

The incident, which occurred during the festive season, had sparked widespread violence and tensions in the area, with several shops and houses being set ablaze. According to eyewitnesses, Ramgopal Mishra was shot dead after he allegedly climbed the terrace of a house belonging to members of the minority community and attempted to replace a flag with a saffron one. The police had subsequently filed a case under Section 103/2 against 13 individuals, including Abdul Hameed, his son Faheem, Sarfaraz, Talib, Saif, Javed Khan, Zeeshan, Nankau, Shoaib, Maruf Ali, Khurshid, Afzal, and Shakeel.

The Court’s Observations

The court, in its verdict, observed that the crime was extremely cruel, sadistic, and shocking to society’s conscience. The judges noted that the act was committed as a show of dominance, targeting an unarmed man, and that Sarfaraz, who fired the gun, was a continuing threat to society. The court also took into account the fact that the victim’s wife, who was married just four months prior to the incident, had lost her husband in a brutal and senseless act of violence.

The Verdict

First Additional Sessions Judge Pawan Kumar Sharma II delivered the final judgment, sentencing Sarfaraz to death and awarding life imprisonment to the remaining nine convicts. Each convict has also been fined Rs 1 lakh. The court noted that Mishra’s killing was not a routine murder but marked by extreme brutality, with the postmortem findings showing 40 entry wounds, two exit wounds, burnt toes, forcibly removed nails, blunt-force injuries, and an upper body “resembling a sieve.”

All received life terms under BNS sections 103(2) (murder), 191(2) (rioting), 191(3) (rioting with armed weapons), the Arms Act, and other charges,  exxcept Sarfaraz. For lack of evidence, the court also acquitted Afzal, Shakeel, and Khurshid.

The court noted that the crime had triggered widespread panic, disrupted essential services, and created a curfew-like situation in the area. The judges also highlighted the tragic impact on the victim’s family, particularly his wife, who lost her husband within four months of her marriage in June 2024, describing it as a lifelong tragedy for the family.

Prosecution’s Argument

The prosecution had described the crime as a textbook example of “heinousness,” arguing that the convicts had sought to assert religious dominance by targeting a man participating in a Durga immersion procession. The government counsel had argued that the crime involved clear mens rea and actus reus, executed with the intention to kill, and that the convicts’ actions were “cold-blooded and sadistic.”

The Aftermath

The verdict has brought a sense of relief to the victim’s family, who had been seeking justice for the brutal murder. The court’s decision is also seen as a significant step towards maintaining law and order in the area and sending a strong message against communal violence. Heavy security has been deployed outside the court to prevent any unrest, and the authorities are closely monitoring the situation to ensure that peace is maintained.
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_Agency inputs.