Bahraich (Uttar Pradesh), December 13, 2025 — A special court in Bahraich today delivered a stringent verdict in the Ramgopal Mishra murder case, connected to the communal violence that erupted during the Durga idol immersion procession in Maharajganj town in 2024. The court sentenced the main accused, Sarfaraz alias Rinku, to death and awarded life imprisonment to nine other accused.
Based on the verdict, the court also stated that three accused were acquitted due to a lack of evidence. A total of 13 accused were named in the FIR, of whom two had previously been killed in police encounters. While announcing the sentences, the court invoked several provisions related to penalties under the law.
During the proceedings, the judge, in a detailed 142-page order, cited a verse from the ancient text ‘Manusmriti’ and stated that a strict penal system is essential to maintain peace and order in society. The court also observed that ensuring complete justice is the need of the hour for such serious and heinous acts.
The violence flared up when Ramgopal Mishra was shot and killed following a dispute during the Durga idol immersion procession on October 13, 2024, after which the situation rapidly deteriorated.
