The court has acquitted 17 accused in the Biranpur communal clash and father-son murder case of 2023 in Bemetara district of Chhattisgarh. On February 17, the court of Additional Sessions Judge Sakshi Dixit gave this verdict after examining 64 witnesses. The court acquitted all the accused, giving the benefit of doubt on the basis of evidence.
According to defense advocate Manoj Namdev, the court examined in detail all the evidence presented on record and the statements of witnesses. During the hearing, the prosecution and defense presented their respective arguments. The court found that the evidence presented was not sufficient to prove the charges and on this basis, the court passed the order of acquittal of all the 17 accused by giving them the benefit of doubt.
What is the whole matter?
On April 8, 2023, violence broke out in Biranpur village following an alleged dispute between school children of different communities. 22 year old Bhuneshwar Sahu was killed during this clash. According to the police, on April 11, 2023, the bodies of Rahim Mohammad (55) and his son Eidul Mohammad (35) of the same village were recovered. It was confirmed that both were murdered with stones and sticks.
Investigation and political context
During the investigation of the incident, the police arrested 17 accused. Later, the case of murder of Bhuneshwar Sahu was handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation in April 2024, the hearing of which is going on in the CBI court of Raipur.
According to news agency PTI, some policemen were also injured during the clash. During the state assembly elections, BJP accused the then Congress government of appeasement and made Bhuneshwar Sahu’s father Ishwar Sahu its candidate from Saja seat. In the elections, Ishwar Sahu defeated the then minister and Congress leader Ravindra Choubey.