Former sarpanch, 11 others get life term for murder in Sonepat

HOLI VIOLENCE A villager was killed and nine others were injured in a clash after accused objected to a ‘prabhat pheri’ in March 2016

ACCUSED OPPOSED

SOUND OF DRUM BEATS DURING PROCESSION BEING TAKEN OUT

BY A GROUP LED BY INCUMBENT SARPANCH

ROHTAK : A court in Sonepat on Wednesday sentenced a former sarpanch of Jakhauli village in the district and 11 others to life imprisonment for the murder of a villager on the occasion of Holi in 2016.

District and sessions judge Rajesh Gupta convicted former sarpanch Naveen, Narender, Ravinder, Vikas, Vikrant, Kapil, Deepak alias Deepa, Mohit , Deepak alias Ghan, Kiran Pal, Raja and Rakesh of the same village under Sections 302 (murder), 307 (attempt to murder) and other relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). He also slapped a fine of ₹20,000 on each convict.

According to prosecution, the incident took place on March 25, 2016, during a religious ‘prabhat pheri’ that was taken out in the village on the occasion of Holi.

One Tejpal of the same village had informed the police about the clash that took place between two groups—one led by incumbent sarpanch Gaurav and another by former sarpanch Naveen. “When the procession reached outside former sarpanch Naveen’s house, he objected to the sound of drums. Soon the two groups clashed with each other, in which Anil and six others of the sarpanch’s camp got injured while Ravinder, Mukesh and former sarpanch Naveen received injuries from the other side. The injured were admitted to a hospital in Sonepat. Anil was referred to a Delhi hospital, where he succumbed to injuries. Later, police booked 12 persons, including former sarpanch Naveen for the murder of Anil,” the prosecution said.

During investigation, a police spokesman of Sonepat police had said that the incident took place as both the camps had old enmity since the time of panchayat elections.