Nearly seven years after mob violence over alleged cow slaughter shook Uttar Pradesh’s Bulandshahr, a district court on Tuesday convicted 38 individuals, including BJP leader and former Bajrang Dal district convener Yogesh Raj. The case stems from the December 3, 2018 incident in Chingrawathi village, where a violent mob clashed with police following the discovery of cow carcasses near Mahav village.
The violence led to the deaths of police inspector Subodh Kumar Singh, who was probing a cow slaughter case, and 20-year-old local resident Sumit Kumar, who died in the chaos allegedly in police firing. The mob set fire to the Chingrawathi police outpost, damaged vehicles, and pelted stones, turning the area into a battleground.
A Special Investigation Team (SIT) filed charges against 44 people. On Tuesday, the court convicted 38—five for murder under IPC Section 302, including Yogesh Raj. The others were found guilty of rioting, arson, criminal conspiracy, and attempt to murder. One accused is a minor and is being tried separately; five others died during the trial.
The sentencing is scheduled for August 1. All convicts are in judicial custody. The verdict is being viewed as a landmark in addressing mob violence and political complicity.
