Madhya Pradesh court acquits 11 in 2022 Khargone violence case, cites investigative lapses

A Madhya Pradesh court has acquitted 11 persons accused of rioting and arson during the communal violence that erupted during a Ram Navami procession in Khargone district in 2022, holding that the prosecution had failed to prove the charges, PTI reported.

In its judgement delivered on Monday, the court said that eight of the 11 eyewitnesses examined by the prosecution failed to identify any of the suspects, The Indian Express reported.

Communal violence broke out in Khargone on April 10, 2022 after some persons had allegedly hurled stones at a Ram Navami procession, objecting to loud and provocative music being played in the Talab Chowk area. One person was killed and at least 24 were injured in the violence. Ten houses were also burnt.

A day after the violence, the Madhya Pradesh government demolished the homes and shops of Muslims in Khargone.

The police had charged 11 persons with rioting and arson – Ibadat Ali, Sadiq Khan, Abdullah Khan, Sahab alias Shahib, Sher Yar, Faisal Khan, Azam Khan, Shabbir Khan, Imran Ali, Mushtaq Ali and Razik Ali.

The prosecution had alleged that the suspects were armed with stones, swords and petrol bombs, the newspaper reported. They allegedly set several houses on fire and vandalised properties in the Bhatwadi area.

The court noted that the police did not provide any explanation on how...

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