The Himachal Pradesh High Court has released 33 people on bail in a 2015 case involving mob violence and the murder of a man in Chaupal village, Shimla district.
The single bench of Justice Sushil Kukreja has ordered that each accused to submit a bail bond of ₹50,000.
The court has also laid down conditions for their release, warning that failure to follow these conditions will result in the cancellation of their bail.
Earlier, on December 22, 2024, the Additional District Court in Shimla, presided over by Hon’ble Judge Praveen Garg, had convicted the accused and sentenced them to various prison terms.
They were sentenced to seven years under Section 452 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), five years under Section 325, and three years under Sections 148 and 440.
The court also directed the accused to pay ₹10,000 as compensation to Virendra Devi, the complainant who was injured during the incident.
The judge emphasized that the punishment was necessary to uphold justice and maintain peace in society.
The case dates back to March 11, 2015, during a wedding in Tooil village, Chaupal. According to the police, a group of people entered the house of a villager named Narveer. To protect himself and his wife, Narveer took out a gun. During a scuffle, the gun went off, and a man named Bantu was hit and killed.
The mob, enraged by the incident, dragged Narveer to a nearby field and killed him. His body was found the next day.
Initially, 34 people were charged in the case, but one accused died during the trial. The remaining 33 were convicted. With the High Court granting bail, they are now released on the condition that they adhere to the court’s terms.
This case highlights the dangers of mob violence and the importance of justice through proper legal channels. The village of Tooil still bears the scars of this tragic incident, serving as a reminder of the need for peace and accountability in society.
