BHAGALPUR: Four accused were sentenced to seven-year imprisonment after they were found guilty in 1989 Bhagalpur riots by the second additional and sessions court, Bhagalpur , headed by ADJ Binod Kumar. In July 2001, charges against the accused were framed and in April 2013, statements of the accused were recorded by the court during the course of trial.

The judgment came on Friday after nearly 24 years of the riots.

Shyam Sunder Modi, 62, Krishan Kumar Modi, 61, Baldev Rajak, 65, and Damodar Sah, 56, all residents of Belhar block in the then Bhagalpur district were found guilty by the court with regard to prosecution charges of fomenting religious hatred, riot and theft on November 7, 1989, evening.

The accused were said to be involved in riot and loot of belongings besides setting the homes afire of the residents of one particular community at Bela and Tarakura villages under Belhar block (now in Banka district). an Air was lodged on the basis of the statement of village chowkidar Shiva Turi.

Additional special public prosecutor (ASPP) Atiullah said seven persons, including Belhar SHO, disposed as witnesses before the court on behalf of the prosecution. Out of seven witnesses, three were three police officers, he added saying the prosecution pleaded for maximum punishment of life imprisonment as per the provisions of law. However, the court sentenced the accused to seven-year imprisonment, the ASPP added saying the informant of the case Shiva Turi could not depose before the court as he had died in due course of time. The convicts were later forwarded to jail.

