Raipur: A district and sessions court has acquitted 17 accused in the 2023 Birenpur double murder case, observing that the prosecution failed to establish guilt beyond reasonable doubt. The accused were charged with murdering Rahim Mohammad and his son Idul Mohammad during communal violence in Bemetara district.
Court’s Observation
The verdict was delivered by Second Additional Sessions Judge Sakshi Dixit, who noted that although 52 witnesses were examined during the trial, independent witnesses did not support the prosecution’s version. The court said there was no substantial evidence linking the accused to the crime, leading to their acquittal.
The accused had earlier been arrested and later released on bail. With this ruling, they now stand cleared of all charges.
Accused Seek Government Jobs
Following the acquittal, the 17 men demanded compensation in the form of government jobs, claiming that the three-year legal battle and imprisonment had caused social stigma and harmed their career prospects. They have warned of launching a protest if their demands are not addressed by the state government.
Background of the Violence
The case stems from communal clashes that erupted in Birenpur village on 8 April 2023, reportedly after a dispute between children escalated into large-scale violence.
During the unrest, 23-year-old Bhuneshwar Sahu was killed. Authorities imposed Section 144 and enforced a two-week curfew amid incidents of arson and rising tension.
On 11 April 2023, the bodies of Rahim (55) and Idul Mohammad (35) were recovered from the Shaktighat area. Police registered a murder case and arrested 17 persons in connection with the killings.
Investigation Status
Police had registered seven FIRs related to the Birenpur violence. While the Rahim-Idul murder case was tried in the local court, the investigation into Bhuneshwar Sahu’s death was handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation.
Ishwar Sahu, father of Bhuneshwar Sahu and MLA from Saja, had sought a central probe into his son’s death. The CBI named several individuals, including Nawab Khan, Jalil Khan and Bashir Khan, in its FIR. The matter is currently pending before a special CBI court.
Victim’s Family in Distress
The acquittal has left Rahim Mohammad’s family in uncertainty. His widow, Alham Bi, continues to live in Birenpur with her grandson. She stated that her husband and son were killed while grazing goats.
With both earning members gone, the family now survives primarily on government rations.
The court’s ruling has sparked debate over criminal accountability in the Birenpur violence, as no one has been convicted for the deaths of Rahim and Idul Mohammad following the conclusion of this trial.
