15 yrs on, UP court convicts 16 rioters in infamous Mainather case

Meerut: Fifteen years after the Mainather incident in Moradabad in which then-DIG Ashok Kumar Singh was brutally attacked by a mob involved in a full-scale riot leaving him critically injured for months, a court finally convicted 16 individuals in the infamous 2011 case. More than 20 cops, including high-ranking officers, also suffered severe injuries.Assistant district govt counsel (ADGC) Brijraj Singh told TOI, "The court of ADJ, Krishan Kumar, in Moradabad found the accused guilty on Monday and the quantum of punishment will be awarded on March 28."The ADGC added: "In all, 25 people were held and a chargesheet was filed against 20. Four died during the trial. The case was filed under IPC sections 307 (attempt to murder), 353 (preventing public servant from discharging duty), 395 (robbery committed by five or more) and 147 (rioting armed with deadly weapon)."On the morning of July 6, 2011, a rumour at Moradabad's Asalatnagar Bagha village -- over cops misbehaving with women during a raid at the home of local villager, Muslim Ahmed, in a harassment case and "desecration" of a religious book -- sparked a massive protest.In the next 10 hours, that day, police personnel fought pitched battles with hundreds of villagers who poured in from other parts of Moradabad district and also from neighbouring Rampur, Sambhal and Amroha.The mob's fury was directed at Mainather thana and Dingarpur chowki -- both of which were set on fire. Several police vehicles were torched and some of the rioters managed to snatch weapons from cops.One of the most harrowing moments of that incident involved the then-DIG Singh, who while trying to pacify the crowd was suddenly attacked and forced to seek refuge in a petrol pump toilet in nearby Dingarpur.The mob, however, pursued him, broke down its door with bricks and stones, and assaulted him severely. They snatched his service pistol. The attack left the DIG with 20 stitches in his forehead and multiple fractures, requiring over three months to recover.The then-DM Rajshekhar Singh, who was with Singh, had a narrow escape.