Bihar News: Justice delayed is justice denied. The age-old maxim was yet again highlighted in Bihar’s Gopalganj when a man got relief in a murder case 27 years after being accused of the crime.
The man was acquitted on Wednesday. The man, Nagendra Tiwari, bore the stigma of murder throughout his youth, and has now, after nearly 27 years, received justice in the twilight of his life. The verdict was delivered by Justice Manvendra Mishra’s court in Gopalganj. The court held that the prosecution failed to prove the heinous crime of murder.
The Full Gopalganj 1998 Murder Case
The case dates back to November 12, 1998. A mob had chased and lynched two persons in an act of vengeance. Despite ample opportunity, the investigating officer in the case failed to present evidence.
One of the accused, Ramjit Rai, passed away during the trial. The other accused, Nagendra Tiwari, has finally been found not guilty of murder. The judge delivered the verdict after hearing arguments from the additional public prosecutor, Jayram Sah, and the defence lawyer, Devendra Mani Tripathi.
Case Registered On Watchman’s Complaint
The case was registered on November 12, 1998, based on a complaint filed by Madan Rai, a watchman from Bansghat Masuria village under Mohammadpur police station. The complaint stated that criminals had shot and killed Nakchhed Rai, son of Pundeo Rai.
Following this, the villagers became agitated. A nearly 400-strong mob chased the ‘criminals’. One was Jaglal Rai, son of Tapeshwar Rai from the same village. The identity of the other could not be ascertained.
The duo was later found dead near a dam in Bansghat Masuria Chanwar. The complainant alleged that the mob had killed both individuals in a fit of rage.
The deceased’s son, Jitendra Rai, claimed to be a witness, but he neither filed a First Information Report (FIR) regarding his father’s murder nor immediately named any accused. The FIR was filed against unknown accused based on the statement of the local watchman.
Even when the bodies were sent to the Sadar Hospital for post-mortem, the doctor mentioned ‘unidentified bodies recovered’ in the column for the deceased’s name. This clearly indicates that the deceased’s son was not present at the scene. There were multiple witness testimonies from the hospital as well
Although the actual killers could not be pinned in the murder case, Nagendra Tiwari’s plea for relief has finally found closure 27 years later.
(Story by Awadhesh Kumar.)
