A court in Uttar Pradesh on Thursday ordered death penalty to the prime accused, Mohammad Sarfaraz, in the 2024 Bahraich communal violence case in which Ram Gopal Mishra was killed.
The remaining nine convicted individuals have been sentenced to life imprisonment for their roles in the violence that erupted in the Maharajganj market area of Bahraich.
As the judgment was pronounced, tension flared outside the court complex, prompting authorities to deploy heavy security to maintain order.
The verdict comes nearly 14 months after violent clashes broke out during the Durga idol immersion procession in Mahsi tehsil of the district.
According to the prosecution, Mishra was shot dead on October 13, 2024, during the immersion procession in Maharajganj market. His killing triggered widespread unrest, including the torching of several shops and homes.
Following the incident, Hardi police registered a case under Section 103/2 against 13 accused— Abdul Hameed; his sons Faheem, Sarfaraz, and Talib; as well as Saif, Javed Khan, Zeeshan, Nankau, Shoaib, Maruf Ali, Khurshid, Afzal, and Shakeel. All were arrested and jailed.
On December 9, the court convicted 10 of the accused, while Khurshid, Shakeel, and Afzal were acquitted due to insufficient evidence.
First Additional Sessions Judge Pawan Kumar Sharma-II delivered the final verdict, sentencing Sarfaraz to death and handing life terms to the other nine convicts. Each convict has also been fined Rs 1 lakh.
One of the most sensitive cases in Bahraich in recent years, the incident drew significant public attention, with the victim’s family pressing for the harshest punishment.
The violence had erupted after a dispute over music during the immersion procession. Mishra, a resident of Rehua Mansoor village, allegedly removed green flags from a rooftop shortly before he was shot dead.
In the aftermath, 13 FIRs were registered. The NSA was invoked against five accused in March 2025, and later against eight more in September 2025, based on evidence, witness statements, and field reports.
Saif and Shoeb, previously out on bail, were remanded to custody after their conviction. Following the killing, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath met Mishra’s family in Lucknow, assured them of justice, and provided financial assistance along with a government job to the victim’s widow.