Judge in Madhya Pradesh Lynching Case Gets Extra Security After Online Threats
A sessions judge in Madhya Pradesh who sentenced seven men to life imprisonment in a 2022 lynching case has been provided additional security after facing a barrage of threats and abuse on social media, police said.
Additional District and Sessions Judge Tabassum Khan, posted in Narmadapuram district, on June 12 convicted the men for the killing of truck driver Sheikh Lala Nazir Ahmed. Ahmed was beaten to death in August 2022 on suspicion of cow smuggling in Seoni Malwa area.
In the days following the verdict, multiple posts targeting Judge Khan on the basis of her religious identity surfaced online. Public figures expressed concern over attempts to communalise a judicial verdict. Following complaints about the online campaign, police registered a First Information Report (FIR) against unidentified persons under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Information Technology Act.
Authorities have now enhanced the judge's security detail, citing the seriousness of the threats. Officials declined to specify the nature of the security arrangements but confirmed that the judge has been provided a police escort and a guard at her residence.
The case highlights ongoing tensions surrounding cow vigilante violence in India. According to data from the National Crime Records Bureau, incidents of lynching on suspicion of cow smuggling have been reported in several states, often leading to communal polarisation. Legal experts note that judges delivering verdicts in such sensitive cases sometimes face backlash, particularly when the accused belong to a dominant community.
The Sessions Court's judgment in the Seoni Malwa case was widely noted for its swift conclusion. The trial began in 2023 and concluded within a year. The prosecution presented 35 witnesses, including eyewitnesses and medical experts. The court rejected the defence's argument that the victim had been killed in a road accident, relying on post-mortem reports and forensic evidence.
Judge Khan's handling of the case has been praised by human rights activists, but the subsequent threats underscore the risks faced by judicial officers in politically charged environments. The Supreme Court has previously expressed concern over online attacks on judges, emphasising the need to protect judicial independence.
Police have appealed for calm and urged citizens to refrain from making statements that could incite communal tension. An investigation into the source of the threats is ongoing.
