Azamgarh, Uttar Pradesh: Nearly 27 years after the communal violence erupted in Mubarakpur, Azamgarh, a court has delivered its verdict in the long-pending Shia-Sunni riot case. The court found 12 individuals guilty in connection with the killing of Ali Akbar, with sentencing scheduled for 17 February 2026.
The 1999 Riot and Murder
The violence began on 27–30 April 1999 in Mubarakpur when Ali Akbar, a resident of Purakhwaja, went missing. His son, Jagam, reported the disappearance to the local police on 28 April. On 30 April, Ali Akbar’s decapitated body was recovered from Raja Bhat’s pond. Police investigations revealed that he had been attacked and killed by members of the Sunni community while returning from a Muharram procession.
The incident triggered widespread communal unrest, with clashes between Shia and Sunni groups continuing sporadically for approximately 19 months. In total, these riots claimed 17 lives and left dozens injured.
Court Proceedings
Initially, 16 individuals were accused in the murder case. During the long judicial process, four accused passed away. The prosecution presented nine key witnesses, including officers DGC Faudari Priyadarshi Piyush Tripathi and ADGC Deepak Mishra, before the court. After careful deliberation, 12 people were convicted for their roles in the murder.
The convicted include:
- Hussain Ahmed, Hyderabad
- Mohammad Asahad, Hyderabad
- Afzal, Hyderabad
- Alauddin, Hyderabad
- Dilshad, Hyderabad
- Wasim, Hyderabad
- Mohammad Ayub Faizi, Dulhanpura
- Faheem Akhtar, Dulhanpura
- Asrar Ahmed, Dulhanpura
- Mohammad Yakub, Dulhanpura
- Ali Zaheer, Purasofi
- Irshad, Purasofi
Escalation of Violence
The unrest escalated after the discovery of Ali Akbar’s body on 30 April 1999, coinciding with Muharram commemorations. Tensions rose when a curtain at the Shia Imamabada was set ablaze, prompting violent clashes during the procession. Subsequent incidents in January 2000, including the murder of three Sunni community members, further inflamed communal tensions, prompting curfews and extensive police deployment in the region.
In November 2000, coordinated bomb blasts in Mubarakpur claimed 13 lives, causing widespread panic and a month-long curfew, with security forces deployed for an extended period to restore order.
Previous Judicial Outcomes
A fast-track court, handling related 2000 riots cases, acquitted 22 accused in August 2023 due to insufficient evidence, underscoring the complex and prolonged nature of the legal proceedings in Mubarakpur’s communal violence cases.
The 27-year wait for justice in the 1999 murder case marks a significant moment for victims’ families and highlights the slow judicial process in prolonged communal disputes in India.
Discover more from SD NEWS agency
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.