Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], October 4 : A designated CBI court in Lucknow convicted 10 people on Friday for their involvement in the 2013 murder of Zia Ul Haq, who was serving as the Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) in Kunda, Uttar Pradesh.
The Special Judge for CBI cases found the accused guilty of rioting, assaulting a public servant, and murder under several sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including sections 147 (rioting), 149 (unlawful assembly), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 353 (assault or use of criminal force to deter a public servant from duty), 332 (causing hurt to a public servant), and 302 (murder), along with charges under the Arms Act.
The convicted individuals include Phul Chand Yadav, Pawan Yadav, Manjit Yadav, GhanShyam Saroj, Ram Lakhan, Chhote Lal Yadav, Ram Asre, Munna Lal Patel, Shiv Ram Pasi, and Jagat Bahadur Pal, also known as Bulle Pal.
The CBI had taken over the investigation into the case after an FIR was lodged at Hatigaon Police Station in Pratapgarh, Uttar Pradesh, concerning Haq's murder. According to the investigation, on March 2, 2013, DSP Zia Ul Haq, along with his team, went to the village of Balipur to handle a law and order situation following the murder of village headman Nanhe Yadav.
As per the CBI's findings, "The family members of deceased Nanhe Yadav Pradhan and their supporters attacked, chased, and assaulted the police party with lathis, dandas, and other deadly weapons. The mob apprehended, assaulted, and killed CO Kunda while other policemen escaped."
The CBI filed the chargesheet in the case on June 7, 2013, naming 12 individuals including Sudhir Yadav and Yogendra Yadav. However, accused Yogendra Yadav, passed away during the trial, leading to the charges against him being abated.
Out of the remaining accused, 10 have been convicted, while Sudhir Yadav has been acquitted. The court has scheduled October 9, as the date for pronouncement of the sentence in the case.