A local court in Uttar Pradesh has sentenced 16 men to life imprisonment in connection with the 2011 violence in Moradabad’s Mainather area, during which a senior IPS officer was grievously injured, and several vehicles were torched.
The violence had reportedly been triggered by allegations of disrespect towards a religious book.
Court Verdict and Sentencing
The judgment was delivered by Additional District Judge Krishna Kumar Singh, who sentenced all 16 convicts to life imprisonment and imposed a fine of ₹55,000 on each.
The accused had earlier been convicted and were taken into custody after being out on bail during the trial.
Senior IPS Officer Seriously Injured
During the violence, Ashok Kumar Singh, who was then serving as Deputy Inspector General (DIG) in Moradabad, sustained severe injuries, including multiple fractures to his hands, shoulder, and ribs.
He remained hospitalised for 10 days and underwent treatment for nearly six months following the attack.
Charges and Prosecution Details
According to Additional District Government Counsel Brij Raj, the accused were found guilty of rioting, attempt to murder, dacoity, and arson under various sections of the IPC.
A total of 24 prosecution witnesses were examined during the trial, including Ashok Kumar Singh and then District Magistrate Raj Shekhar.
How the Violence Unfolded
The incident dates back to July 6, 2011, when a police team visited a house in Asalatnagar to question a man in a molestation case.
Soon after, rumours spread that policemen had allegedly disrespected a religious book, leading to large-scale outrage. Villagers gathered in large numbers, blocked roads, and began pelting stones at police personnel.
Personnel from the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) were deployed, but they too came under attack, and their vehicle was set ablaze.
Mob Attack on Senior Officers
As the situation escalated, Ashok Kumar Singh rushed to the spot along with senior officials, including Raj Shekhar. Their vehicle was stopped near Dingarpur, where violence had already intensified.
When Singh attempted to pacify the mob, he was surrounded and assaulted. Additional forces later dispersed the crowd and rushed him to the hospital.
Investigation and Trial Developments
Police initially arrested 25 individuals. During the investigation, six were found to be minors and were tried separately under the Juvenile Justice Act.
A chargesheet was filed against 19 accused, out of whom three died during the course of the trial.
At the time of the incident, the state was governed by Mayawati. Following the attack, seven policemen from the escort team were dismissed for allegedly abandoning the officer during the assault.
Current Positions of Key Officials
Ashok Kumar Singh is currently serving as Additional Director General at the Uttar Pradesh Police Recruitment and Promotion Board.
Raj Shekhar is presently serving as Managing Director of Jal Nigam (Rural).
