The CBI's special court in Uttar Pradesh's Pratapgarh has sentenced all 10 convicts to life imprisonment in the sensational murder case of CO Jiya-ul-Haq. While Jiya-ul-Haq's parents expressed relief at the verdict, they voiced disappointment over Raja Bhaiya receiving a clean chit in the case. Jiya-ul-Haq's mother lamented, 'Just as I eagerly wait for my son's return, the families of the sentenced will now face the agony.'
In March 2013, the village of Balipur in Kunda witnessed the heinous mob lynching of Deputy SP Jiya-ul-Haq. There were two FIRs: one by the police and the other by his wife, Parveen Azad.
Raja Bhaiya's Name Emerged in the CO Murder Case
The FIR filed by Parveen Azad implicated several, including then-Kunda legislator and SP Minister Raja Bhaiya, Akshay Pratap Singh, Hariom Srivastava, Gulshan Yadav, and Nanhe Singh as suspects. However, following investigations, the CBI cleared Raja Bhaiya and his associates.
Despite CBI's clean chit, Parveen Azad took her grievances to the Supreme Court, demanding a fresh probe. After rigorous review, on December 23, 2023, the CBI once again ruled in favor of Raja Bhaiya and his allies.
What Did Jiya-ul-Haq's Parents Say?
Speaking to 'Aaj Tak,' Jiya-ul-Haq's father, Shamshul Haq, and his mother, Hazra Khatoon, remarked, 'We are satisfied with the CBI court's verdict, though there's an ache over the mastermind (Raja Bhaiya) escaping justice.'
Reflecting on the protracted legal battle, Shamshul Haq commented, 'After 11 long years, justice has finally been served. Had our son (Jiya-ul-Haq) been alive, our lives would have been different. The guilty will now experience the same trials we endured.'
Shamshul Haq also shared personal struggles, saying, 'Memories of our son continue to haunt us, making daily life unbearable. The grief has taken a toll on our health; our family has yet to recover from this loss.'
Main Accused Identified: Jiya-ul-Haq's Father
Despite Raja Bhaiya's exoneration, Shamshul Haq insists, 'Raja Bhaiya and Gulshan Yadav (then village head) were the main culprits. I'm unsure how CBI cleared Raja Bhaiya; perhaps there was foul play. Raja Bhaiya orchestrated the entire plot, leading to the murder.'
Understanding the Full Case
On March 2, 2013, at 7:30 pm, a land dispute in Balipur saw the fatal shooting of village head Nanhe Yadav. Consequently, armed supporters of the slain head retaliated by setting the accused's Kamta Pal house ablaze.
Upon learning about the episode, Kunda's CO Jiya-ul-Haq proceeded with SHO Manoj Kumar Shukla, SO Sarvesh Mishra, and other officers to the area. The volatile crowd encircled the officers; amidst mediation attempts, another tragic shooting claimed the life of the deceased head's younger brother, Suresh Yadav.
Source: aajtak
Following the second murder, the mob intensified its assault on the police. Trapped amidst the chaos, CO Jiya-ul-Haq was abandoned by his colleagues and brutally beaten to death.
When calm restored around 11:00 pm, the officers uncovered CO Jiya-ul-Haq's body behind the headman's residence. The gruesome attack reverberated from Lucknow to Delhi, compelling Raja Bhaiya to relinquish his ministerial role. The then-SP government faced severe scrutiny.
Life Sentences Pronounced
On October 9, the CBI Special Court, overseen by Judge Dheerendra Kumar, sentenced 10 individuals to life. Amongst them are Phoolchand Yadav, Pawan Yadav, Manjeet Yadav, Ghanshyam Saroj, Ram Lakhan Gautam, Chhote Lal Yadav, Ram Aasrey, Panna Lal Patel, Shivram Pasi, and Jagat Bahadur Patel aka Bulbul Patel. Prior to this judgment, on October 5, the court declared all guilty.
