18 get life imprisonment for death of ASI Mall in Araria mob violence

Araria: The court of district additional sessions judge-IV Rabi Kumar on Monday sentenced 18 people to rigorous life imprisonment for the culpable homicide of assistant sub-inspector (ASI) Rajiv Ranjan Mall at Laksmipur Chowk under the jurisdiction of Fulkaha police station in Araria district on March 12.Mall, a newly promoted officer from Patna, was part of a police team dispatched to arrest a wanted criminal, Anmol Yadav, facing multiple charges under the arms and NDPS Acts. Acting on a tip-off, police successfully apprehended Yadav at Laksmipur Chowk. However, the situation escalated when a mob of approximately 50 to 60 villagers gathered at the scene, allegedly with an intent to forcibly release Yadav from custody.According to the police report, the mob turned violent, damaging the police vehicle and assaulting officers. In the chaos, ASI Mall was pushed to the ground and sustained fatal injuries. He was rushed to Sadar Hospital, Araria, where he was declared dead on arrival. The incident deeply shocked the police fraternity across the Purnia division, prompting immediate administrative action.An FIR was lodged against 18 named individuals from nearby villages under several sections of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS)-2023, including Section 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder, carrying a maximum sentence of life imprisonment).The trial was conducted on a fast-track basis, with the chargesheet submitted on May 31, and proceedings concluded within approximately 100 days, as confirmed by govt APP Prabha Kumari. Despite the absence of independent public witnesses, the prosecution relied heavily on a 188-paragraph case diary compiled by investigating officer Mahadev Kamat.The case was personally supervised by by DIG Pramod Kumar Mandal. In the aftermath, the SHO of Fulkaha police station and a home guard driver were suspended for procedural lapses during the operation.