Murshidabad Lynching: 13 Get Life Terms in Waqf Act Violence Case
Murshidabad Lynching: 13 Get Life Terms in Waqf Act Violence Case
A district court in Murshidabad sentences 13 people to life terms for the April lynching amid Waqf Act protests, with ₹15 lakh compensation to the victims' families.
A district court in Murshidabad on Tuesday sentenced 13 people to life imprisonment for the lynching of a father and his son during April protests over the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025. The judge also ordered ₹15 lakh as compensation to the victims’ families. Each convict was further handed 10 years for dacoity, 10 years for house trespass and five years for rioting; all sentences will run concurrently.
The violence erupted in Samserganj and Suti as protests over the act turned deadly. Homes were looted, shops were set on fire and police were attacked. Three people were killed, including 72-year-old Haragobindo Das and his son Chandan Das, who were dragged from their home in Jafrabad. The Calcutta high court had previously ordered deployment of central forces to restore calm.
Charges were framed under various sections of the IPC, including murder by a mob (103(2)), rioting and dacoity, along with provisions of the Arms Act. The court noted the crimes were committed by a mob, with charges extending to multiple offenses.
The Das family expressed dissatisfaction with the verdict and called for harsher penalties for three convicts. The case drew political reactions, including coverage at a Kolkata office of the opposition party.
Officials highlighted that this is among the first times life imprisonment has been awarded in a mob-lynching case in the country, and the court's decision comes as authorities seek to deter communal violence.
Central forces had to be deployed in the region earlier after the clashes were reported, and district authorities vowed to maintain peace as the verdict was read.
