Ranchi’s CBI special court delivered a resounding blow to vigilante justice today, sentencing three men to life in prison for murdering 17-year-old Rupesh Pandey during Hazaribagh’s Saraswati immersion procession. The guilty trio—Mohammad Aslam Ansari aka Pappu Miyan, Mohammad Gufran, and Mohammad Kaif—also face Rs 10,000 fines each.
Convicted earlier this week on February 2, the men were immediately shifted to jail after the sentencing. The court acquitted Mohammad Irfan and Istkhar Miyan citing evidentiary gaps.
The February 6, 2022, horror in Barhi unfolded against a backdrop of celebration. Rupesh and his uncle mingled in the procession when Aslam’s group allegedly encircled and battered the boy fatally.
Jharkhand erupted in anger, with protests turning volatile across districts. An FIR named 27, but police chargesheets targeted just five. The victim’s mother escalated to the High Court, securing CBI oversight.
CBI’s probe, logged as Case 1/2024, culminated in a rigorous trial. Special prosecutor Priyanshu Singh’s arguments proved decisive.
This outcome not only punishes the culprits but signals zero tolerance for procession violence. It validates central agency probes in sensitive matters, offering hope amid rising communal incidents. Jharkhand’s administration must now prioritize preventive measures to safeguard future gatherings.