Police in Madhya Pradesh’s Narmadapuram registered an FIR against two unidentified persons for allegedly issuing death threats and making communal remarks against ADJ Tabassum Khan. The threats followed her judgment sentencing 14 men to life imprisonment in a mob lynching case linked to alleged cattle smuggling.
Police in Madhya Pradesh’s Narmadapuram district have filed an FIR against two unidentified individuals for allegedly issuing death threats and making communal remarks targeting Additional District Judge (ADJ) Tabassum Khan of the district and sessions courts.
The FIR follows Khan’s recent sentencing of 14 men to life imprisonment in a mob lynching case connected to alleged cattle smuggling.
In Seoni Malwa, police took suo motu action and registered the case under Sections 302 (uttering words or gestures with intent to wound religious feelings) and 196 (promoting enmity between communities) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
The action was taken after a notice from the Union home ministry’s cyber cell under the Information Technology Act, police said. Station in-charge Sudhakar Baraskar stated that the case was filed after objectionable social media posts and videos came to light online.
Baraskar said that one of the purported videos allegedly includes threats of violence unless the 14 convicts were released within 10 days. He added that another video allegedly shows a woman making communal comments about the judge and warning that she would face consequences for the verdict. Police are currently working to identify the two accused.
The alleged threats surfaced after ADJ Khan on June 12 convicted 14 men in the mob lynching case linked to alleged cattle smuggling. The court found them guilty of murder, attempt to murder, rioting, and wrongful restraint, and sentenced all of them to life imprisonment.
According to police, the case traces back to August 3, 2022, when a truck transporting 30 cattle to a fair in Amravati, Maharashtra, was stopped near Barakhad village in Seoni Malwa. Police said a mob assaulted the three occupants with sticks and iron rods, killing Nazir Ahmed. The attack, they said, was carried out by villagers and self-styled cow vigilantes.
A video of the incident later reportedly went viral on social media.
Speaking on the matter, Congress leader Pawan Khera criticised the government’s response, saying,
“Immediate action is usually taken against those who spread hate, yet in Modi’s India, hate-mongers roam freely. The Cyber Cell is not taking punitive action but merely sending notices.”
BJP spokesperson Hitesh Bajpai said,
“Police have already taken suo motu cognizance and registered a case. Stringent action will be taken against the accused.”
The case originated from an incident in the early hours between August 2 and August 3, 2022.
The prosecution said Nazir Ahmed and Sheikh Mushtaq were travelling with cattle from Nardarwada to Maharashtra when their vehicle was stopped near Barakhand village in Seoni Malwa by a crowd armed with sticks and wooden rods.
The mob allegedly assaulted the two men on suspicion of cow smuggling. Nazir Ahmed later died due to injuries sustained in the attack, while Mushtaq survived.