Munger Court Sentences Eight To Life For Murder Of Bihar ASI During Village Clash

(MENAFN- IANS) Patna, Sep 7 (IANS) A court in Bihar's Munger district on Monday sentenced eight people, including three women, to rigorous life imprisonment for the murder of Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Santosh Kumar Singh, who was fatally attacked while attempting to defuse a village dispute during Holi celebrations in March 2025.

District and Additional Sessions Judge (IV) Kumari Manisha also imposed a fine of Rs 25,000 on each convict. In case of non-payment, each convict will have to undergo an additional six months in prison. All eight convicts have been sent to jail.

Public Prosecutor (PP) Sanjay Kumar Singh said the court convicted the accused under Sections 103(1), 117(2) and 118(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with other relevant provisions. The sentences will run concurrently.

The incident took place in March 2025 in Nandlalpur village under Muffassil police station limits. On the day of Holi, a dispute involving a local resident, Pradeep Kumar, was reported in the village.

After receiving information, ASI Santosh Kumar Singh reached the spot with a Dial 112 police team and helped pacify the situation. Later that evening, at around 7.30 p.m., he returned to the village while on patrol and again intervened after noticing another altercation.

According to the prosecution, when the ASI went to the house of a person identified as Ranveer to mediate, the accused attacked him with batons, iron rods, and a sharp-edged weapon, leaving him critically injured.

Santosh Kumar Singh was initially taken to a local hospital following the attack. Considering the seriousness of his condition, he was referred to Paras Hospital in Patna, where he died during treatment.

An FIR was registered at Muffassil police station on the basis of the statement of Constable Deepak Kumar, who was present at the scene.

The case was taken up for a speedy trial, with the prosecution examining 12 witnesses during approximately one-and-a-half years of hearings.

Public Prosecutor Sanjay Kumar Singh represented the prosecution. After hearing arguments from both sides and examining the evidence, the court convicted all eight accused under the relevant provisions of the BNS and other applicable sections.

The convicts sentenced to rigorous life imprisonment are Ranveer Kumar, Ranjeet Kumar, Raju Kumar, Guddu Kumar, Vikas Kumar, Rekha Devi, Sarita Devi and Mausam Kumari. "Following the hearing on the quantum of sentence, the court awarded rigorous life imprisonment to all eight convicts and imposed the prescribed fine," the Public Prosecutor said.

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