In a shocking development, six individuals have been booked under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) following the brutal murder of a Hindu youth named Sadhram Yadav in Kawardha, Chhattisgarh. The victim, a 50-year-old Gausevak, was mercilessly killed upon his return from Kashmir by Ayaz Khan and his associates, who allegedly mimicked the modus operandi of the Islamic terrorist group ISIS by slitting Yadav’s throat. This heinous act was purportedly aimed at instilling fear ahead of the consecration of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.
The incident, which occurred on January 20 in Lalpur village, sent shockwaves through the community, prompting outrage among residents of Kawardha. The accused, identified as Ayaz, Idrish, Mehtab, Sheikh Rafiq, and others, engaged in a deliberate altercation with Sadhram Yadav before executing the murder in a manner reminiscent of ISIS executions.
The imposition of Section 16 of the UAPA on the accused marks a significant step by the authorities, highlighting the severity of the crime and the potential terrorist connections involved. This is reportedly the first instance of the UAPA being invoked in a case unrelated to Naxalite activity in the State.
According to Kawardha Superintendent of Police Abhishek Pallav, investigations have revealed disturbing details about the accused, including Ayaz’s frequent trips to Kashmir and Idris’s associations with suspicious individuals. Evidence gathered from Ayaz Khan’s phone indicated multiple visits to Jammu & Kashmir, with subsequent probes uncovering potential links to terrorist elements in the region. Additionally, communications intercepted between Idris Khan and suspected individuals have raised further concerns about their involvement in extremist activities.
In response to the tragic loss of Sadhram Yadav, Hindu organisations have called for stringent action against the perpetrators. Yadav’s wife, expressing her disdain for Government assistance, returned a cheque for Rs 5 lakh, emphasising the need for justice to be served for her husband’s brutal murder. The incident has sparked widespread condemnation and renewed calls for heightened vigilance against acts of terror and communal violence.
On January 25, the district administration in Kawardha town, Chhattisgarh, took action against the illegal residence of Ayaz Khan, the prime accused in the murder of elderly Gau Sevak Sadhram Yadav (50). Yadav was brutally killed by having his throat slit on the streets of Lalpur Kala village in Kawardha town of Kabirdham district of Chhattisgarh on the intervening night of January 20–21. The Deputy Chief Minister, a native of the same town, visited the grieving family and provided financial assistance. Before the Deputy CM’s visit, all individuals involved in the heinous murder were apprehended by the police.
Organiser reported on January 23, five individuals, including a minor, attacked and slit Sadhram Yadav’s throat during a minor altercation in Lalpur Kala village, Kawardha. The assailants fled the scene, and the incident was only discovered the next morning when residents found Yadav’s body.
Organiser contacted Investigating Officer Moti Patel on January 25 and learned that an FIR (number 52/2024) was filed at the Kawardha Kotwali police station following the murder.
The accused were identified and arrested brd on the complaint, CCTV footage, and evidence from the crime scene. Patel explained that the motive, according to the accused, was a confrontation that escalated into a scuffle and resulted in Yadav’s murder during their nighttime gathering in the village.
The accused face charges under IPC sections 302 (murder), 201 (destroying evidence), and 34 (acts done by several people with common intention).
In the aftermath of the tragic incident, State Deputy CM Vijay Sharma visited the village and met with the victim’s family. Sharma, addressing the media, stated that the motive behind the murder is currently unknown and under investigation. Despite the uncertainty, he personally knew Sadhram as a generous individual and a committed Gausevak.
Sharma extended financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh to the deceased’s family. Expressing his dismay, he mentioned that when villagers visited the accused in jail, they found them laughing, highlighting the incomprehensible mindset behind the heinous act.
