Muslim judge threatened after sentencing 14 murderers to life:Youth warns of bloodshed unless ‘Hindu brothers’ are freed

A Muslim woman judge who sentenced 14 men to life imprisonment in a mob lynching case in Madhya Pradesh’s Narmadapuram has received death threats from a youth in a viral video. The youth is heard saying that if “our 14 Hindu brothers” are not released within 10 days, there will be bloodshed across the country and the state. In another viral video, a woman is also seen threatening Additional District Judge (ADJ) Tabassum Khan. She says, “A Muslim became a judge and showed her true colours. She has become a jihadi judge. She sentenced our 14 Hindu brothers to life imprisonment. You will have to pay the price for this.” After the threatening videos went viral, the Union Home Ministry’s Cyber Cell issued a notice under the IT Act. Meanwhile, Seoni Malwa Police registered a case against two unidentified persons and launched an investigation. Reacting to the incident, Congress leader Pawan Khera said, “Those spreading hatred are supposed to face immediate action. But in Modi’s India, the person spreading hatred is roaming freely. Instead of taking action, the Cyber Cell has only issued a notice.” 14 accused were sentenced to life imprisonment on June 12 On June 12, ADJ Tabassum Khan’s court in Seoni Malwa convicted 14 accused in the mob lynching case linked to alleged cattle smuggling and sentenced them to life imprisonment. The court found all the accused guilty under multiple charges, including murder, attempt to murder, rioting and wrongful restraint. The case dates back to August 3, 2022, when a truck carrying around 30 cattle to Amravati in Maharashtra was stopped near Barakhad village in Seoni Malwa. A mob comprising villagers and self-styled cow vigilantes allegedly surrounded the three occupants of the truck and assaulted them with sticks. Nazir Ahmed died in the attack. Life imprisonment sentence for 14 killers Youth uploaded on social media Following the verdict, a video surfaced on social media in which a youth is seen making threatening remarks against the Muslim judge. In the video, he says, “Listen carefully. If our 14 brothers are not released within 10 days, there will be bloodshed across the country and the state.” He further says, “Hindu brothers, just see what has happened. Today, because a Muslim has become a judge, our 14 brothers have been sent to prison. Imagine what will happen to Hindus the day a Muslim becomes Prime Minister.” The identity of the person who uploaded the video has not yet been established. In another video said – ‘You will have to bear the punishment for this’ In another video, the same youth makes further remarks against the judge. He says, “Weren’t you ashamed? You showed your religion. You sentenced 14 people to life imprisonment in Madhya Pradesh. Is protecting a cow or any living being a crime? In your eyes it is, and that is why you did this. Hindus are not so weak. You will have to pay the price for this.” He continues, “Being a Muslim, you (mentions the judge’s name) have shown your religion. Your jihadi ideology teaches you this. I want to tell Hindu brothers that those who keep quoting the Constitution are nowhere to be seen. Where is Chandrashekhar Azad ‘Ravan’? He belongs to the same religion, but he won’t come.” Woman also released video questioning the verdict In another video, a woman also makes objectionable remarks about the court’s verdict. She says, “A Muslim was made a judge. She showed her true colours. This jihadi has sentenced our 14 brothers to life imprisonment.” Addressing Prime Minister Modi, she says, “Is serving and protecting cows equivalent to murder? If it is, then no child will ever go to serve cows again. Will everyone who serves cows now be sentenced to life imprisonment? You seem blind to all this.” Congress leader Pawan Khera said – Found guilty, hence the punishment Senior Congress leader Pawan Khera also reposted the video and responded to it. He wrote, “All those convicted are Hindus, but they were not convicted because of their religion. They were convicted because the investigation found them guilty of rioting, attempted murder and murder.” He further said, “The anger shown by our Hindu brother in the video is not over the crime committed by the accused. His anger is solely because the judge who sentenced the convicts is a Muslim woman.” Police registered a case against two unknown persons Seoni Malwa police station in-charge Sudhakar Baraskar said a case has been registered against two unidentified persons for sharing objectionable posts and videos on social media. Efforts are underway to identify them and initiate legal action. He added that ADJ Tabassum Khan has not yet filed any formal complaint. However, the police took suo motu cognisance of the matter, registered an FIR and began an investigation. In 2022, mob stopped truck and beat them On the night of August 3, 2022, a truck travelling to Amravati in Maharashtra was stopped near Barakhad village in Seoni Malwa. The truck was carrying around 30 cattle. According to the prosecution, a mob of villagers and self-styled cow vigilantes surrounded the three men travelling in the truck and began beating them with sticks. Truck driver Sheikh Lala, who was injured in the attack, had said around 50 to 60 people were standing on the road. They stopped the truck and began assaulting them without asking any questions. Police later shifted them to hospital, where Nazir Ahmed succumbed to his injuries. A video of the incident had also surfaced, showing the mob attacking the victims with sticks while shouting, “Maaro, Maaro” (“Beat them”). After nearly three years of trial, the court convicted all 14 accused and sentenced them to life imprisonment.