Bemetara sessions court grants the benefit of doubt after key independent witnesses do not support the prosecution in the case linked to the 2023 communal violence
BEMETARA/RAIPUR — Nearly three years after the Biranpur violence shook Chhattisgarh, a district and sessions court in Bemetara has acquitted all 17 accused in the murder of father and son Rahim Mohammad and Eidul Mohammad, citing lack of supporting evidence and granting them the benefit of doubt.
The verdict has left the victims’ family distressed and has once again drawn attention to the wider events of April 2023, when communal tension in Biranpur village led to loss of life and widespread unrest.
According to court sources, the prosecution had presented more than 50 witnesses during the trial. However, independent witnesses did not support the prosecution’s version in court.
On this basis, the judge ruled that the charges could not be proved beyond a reasonable doubt and acquitted all 17 accused.
A lawyer familiar with the proceedings said, “In criminal law, the burden of proof lies with the prosecution. When independent witnesses did not confirm the allegations, the court extended the benefit of doubt to the accused.”
The detailed judgment is awaited, but legal experts say the outcome highlights the difficulty of securing convictions in cases linked to communal violence, especially when witnesses turn hostile.
The case is connected to the violence that erupted in the Biranpur village on 8 April 2023. The unrest reportedly began after a dispute between children of two communities escalated into larger clashes.
During the violence, 23-year-old Bhuvneshwar Sahu was killed. The incident led to tension across the state, with calls for a shutdown by some Hindu organisations. Protests were reported in various places, and incidents of arson were also recorded in nearby villages.
Three days later, on 11 April 2023, the bodies of Rahim Mohammad (55) and his son Eidul Mohammad (35) were found in a field in Korwai village in the Shaktighat area. They had reportedly gone out to graze goats.
Police registered a case at Saja police station under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and arrested 17 individuals in connection with the double murder.
The acquittal has caused anguish among members of the victims’ families and sections of the local Muslim community.
A relative of the deceased said, “We waited for justice for nearly three years. Today we are told there is not enough evidence. For us, the pain remains.”
Another family member said quietly, “Two lives were lost. We only wanted the truth to come out.”
Community representatives have urged the state to examine the judgment carefully and consider further legal options if required.
One local leader said, “If witnesses have turned hostile, the system must ask why. People should feel safe to speak in court.”
The murder case relating to Bhuvneshwar Sahu is being tried separately. In that matter, 12 people were arrested and the case is currently being heard in a CBI court in Raipur. The accused persons in that case remain in custody.
After the 2023 violence, the administration imposed Section 144 in the area and curfew was enforced for a period to maintain law and order. The atmosphere in and around Biranpur remained tense for months.
Legal observers say cases arising from communal clashes often face challenges in court due to fear among witnesses, lack of direct evidence, or inconsistencies in testimony.
A senior advocate in Raipur said, “Courts decide cases based on evidence placed before them. If witnesses do not support the prosecution, a conviction becomes difficult. At the same time, the state has a responsibility to ensure witness protection and proper investigation.”
For residents of Biranpur, the verdict has reopened old wounds. While the court has delivered its decision in the Rahim and Eidul murder case, the larger memory of the 2023 violence still weighs heavily on both communities.
As one villager put it, “We do not want more hatred. We want peace. But peace also requires justice and trust in the system.”
The state government has not yet indicated whether it will file an appeal against the acquittal.
