Alwar: The district and sessions court in Alwar Saturday sentenced nine persons, including former BJP district president Indrajeet Singh Pata, to life imprisonment on charges of murder. The case, which stems from political rivalry following the 2016 sarpanch election, garnered significant attention in the region.The court’s verdict came after a lengthy trial that revealed an assault on Avatar Singh, who was killed in a premeditated attack on June 10, 2016. According to the prosecution, the violence erupted from enmity between the two factions in Pata village under the jurisdiction of Naugaon police station, following the sarpanch election in which a candidate supported by Avatar emerged victorious.On that fateful evening, Avatar and several family members were allegedly ambushed by Indrajeet Singh and his associates. Armed with hammers, swords, knives, iron pipes, hockey sticks and lathis, the assailants inflicted multiple grievous injuries on Avatar. Despite being rushed to the district hospital, he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.Following the murder, Avatar’s family lodged an FIR at Naugaon police station. The police subsequently filed a chargesheet against the accused based on testimonies from 22 witnesses and medical evidence, which ultimately led to the guilty verdict.In addition to the life sentences, the court imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh on each of the convicts. The gravity of the political murder was further highlighted when a video surfaced on social media, allegedly showing Indrajeet Singh casually smiling in the courtroom after the verdict and some other convicts leaving in a seemingly nonchalant manner, twirling their moustaches and triggering public outrage.Reacting to the court’s decision, Ajaypal, the victim’s son, expressed relief and a sense of justice after over a decade of turmoil. “Our family has finally received justice,” he said. Ajaypal emphasised that both families were divided politically during the 2016 election, resulting in the loss of his father after the rivalry culminated in violence.
