Rajasthan court sentences Ex-DSP, 29 others to life in prison for burning cop alive

A Rajasthan court on November 18 convicted 30 people, including a former DSP, for their roles in the brutal killing of an SHO and awarded them rigorous life imprisonment. The SHO was burned alive by a protesting mob in 2011.

SHO Phool Mohammed was first knocked unconscious during stone-pelting on his official vehicle in Sawai Madhopur. Later, the furious mob set the vehicle on fire with the SHO inside.

A team of CBI investigating the case, discovered that then-DSP Mahendra Singh incited the protestors to set fire to the police vehicle out of a personal vendetta against the slain officer.

Also Read:  Rajasthan: At this shop, owner rings temple’s bell before serving paan

The stir had turned violent after a protester, Rajesh Meena, jumped to death from an overhead water tank in Surwal village on March 17, 2011, alleging police inaction in the murder of an elderly woman, Dhakka Devi. They were demanding the arrest of the culprits and compensation. Convicting DSP Singh and the others for rioting, murder, assaulting/obstructing public servants and other charges, special Sawai Madhopur court judge Pallavi Sharma also imposed fines between Rs 2,000 and Rs 50,000 on them.

The Sawai Madhopur court judge Pallavi Sharma found the involvement of DSP Singh and the others in igniting the riot, murdering/assaulting/and obstructing public servants. The court has imposed fines of Rs 2,000 and Rs 50,000 on culprits.

The family of the deceased SHO is satisfied with the judgment. "As a family, we had always reposed our faith in the judiciary," said Mohammed's elder son, Suhail Khan. Suhail was a child at the time of the heinous murder of his father. He was appointed as a Rajasthan sub-inspector in 2020 on compassionate grounds.

Also Read:  Watch: Tea seller stops BJP MLA on road, says ‘pay my Rs 30000’

Special public prosecutor Shridas Singh Rajawat said that the police team led by DSP Singh was dispatched to control the situation. "The DSP fled when the situation turned violent. He had also instigated the villagers against the SHO," he said.

The furious mob later set ablaze the vehicle with the SHO inside.