Lucknow | April 9, 2025 — In a chilling act of vigilante justice, a man previously convicted for a 2009 murder was lynched in broad daylight by a mob led by the sons of his former victim, in Beniganj town of Uttar Pradesh’s Hardoi district on Tuesday. The assault, captured on CCTV footage, has sparked a wave of arrests and a wider police investigation.
The deceased, identified as Mahawat alias Sarpanch, 48, was beaten to death by a group of nearly 30 people, including several women. He had recently been released from prison after serving a 15-year sentence for the murder of a local farm labourer, Rampal, which had taken place in the same locality.
Hardoi Superintendent of Police Neeraj Kumar Jadaun confirmed that 18 individuals, among them seven women, have been arrested in connection with the lynching. Authorities are reviewing video evidence and questioning suspects and eyewitnesses to identify an additional 12 accused.
According to police, Mahawat had originally murdered Rampal, then 30 years old, over a minor financial dispute in 2009. At the time, Rampal’s sons, Rahul and Beeru, were 12 and 10, respectively. Numerous eyewitness accounts led to Mahawat’s conviction and life imprisonment.
After completing his term, Mahawat relocated to Lakhimpur district but reportedly returned to Beniganj recently, where he was identified by Rahul and Beeru. On Tuesday morning, the brothers, now adults, confronted Mahawat with a crowd and launched a brutal assault near the very spot where their father had been killed.
Despite efforts by police to intervene, Mahawat succumbed to his injuries at a nearby medical facility.
What has drawn further attention is the lack of remorse displayed by the accused. According to SP Jadaun, the primary accused, Rahul and Beeru, stated during interrogation: “He killed our father with sticks, and we did the same to him.” Female members of the group expressed similar sentiments, saying the act was long overdue.
The incident raises serious questions about law enforcement, community justice, and the lingering impact of past crimes in rural communities. Authorities have assured a thorough investigation and appropriate legal action against all those involved.
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