CBI court convicts 5 for murder in 2012 Bijni riot, awards them lifer
The court found the five Muslim individuals — Joyanuddin Seikh, Abdul Khalek, Nabi Hussain, Habizur Ali, and Osman Ali — guilty in connection with the crime.
After a thorough examination of evidence and witness testimonies, the court held that the prosecution had successfully proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.
In its sentencing order, the court directed that each of the convicts shall undergo rigorous imprisonment for three years under sections 148/324/149 IPC.
They are also sentenced for life along with a fine of ₹15,000 each under sections 302/149 IPC.
The court ordered that all sentences shall run concurrently, and the period of detention already undergone by the accused will be set off in accordance with law.
The incident occurred on July 22, when four Bodo men from Hasraubari village, Ratneswar Basumatary, Tarani Basumatary, Bhagwan Basumatary, Subilal Basumatary were attacked with daggers, daos, lathis, iron rods near the village road by a mob of about 40 to 50 people.
The victims were rushed to Bhetagaon Hospital, and later referred to Bongaigaon Civil Hospital. One of the victims, Ratneswar, succumbed to his injuries.
The four Bodo individuals and others who had earlier shifted their families to Gargaon due to rising communal unrest had returned without their families to guard their homes on that day when they were ambushed by the mob.
The Bijni incident was part of a larger wave of ethnic violence between Bodos and Bangladesh-origin immigrant Muslims that engulfed the Bodoland Territorial Area Districts (BTAD) in July of 2012. The clashes were among the worst communal disturbances in the state's history resulting in over 100 deaths, displacement of nearly 500,000 people from both communities and destruction of homes in over 240 villages.
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