Muzaffarnagar: A local court here on Wednesday ordered attachment of assets proceedings against six men accused of murder that triggered the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots. The six accused are Ravinder Prahlad, Bishan Singh, Tendu, Devender and Jitender.According to a complaint filed by Mohammed Saleem, his son Shahnawaz was stabbed by eight people in Kawal village on August 27, 2013. On this day, two FIRs pertaining to two murder cases in Kawal were filed. On the fateful day, Sachin and Gorav, along with six others, thrashed Shahnawaz after accusing the latter of eve-teasing. Shahnawaz later succumbed to his injuries. In a retaliatory move, seven people from Shahnawaz’ community lynched the two cousins.The murders triggered communal riots in Muzaffarnagar, leaving 60 dead and 50,000 displaced.According to sources, police had closed the case of Shahnawaz' murder after investigation found two accused -- Gorav and Sachin -- were later killed by a mob soon after Shahnawaz killing. While Shahnawaz's father, Saleem, registered a case against eight people, including Gorav, Sachin, Ravinder (father of Gorav) and five others belonging to Gorav's and Sachin's families.Now, six years down the line, all the seven, accused of murdering Sachin and Gorav have been sentenced to life imprisonment on February 8 this year. Anjum Khan, prosecution lawyer in the case said, "After hearing both the parties, Muzammil, Muzassim, Nadeem, Jahangir, Furkan, Iqbal and Afzal were sentenced to life imprisonment by the court (ADJ 7). Besides, Rs 2 lakh fine was also slapped on each of the convict, of which and 80% of the penalty money will go to the families of deceased Sachin and Gorav."However, in the Shahnawaz murder case, police faced criticism for not being able to produce the six accused in court despite several judicial interventions, including NBWs against them.According to advocate Hasan Mosin Zaidi, "On Tuesday, the Chief Judicial Magistrate's Court ordered asset attachment proceedings against six accused of murdering Shahnawaz, to be executed on April 4. Earlier, a non-bailable warrant was issued against the accused but police failed to trace them so far."On that fateful day, Sachin, Gorav and six others thrashed Shahnawaz after accusing him of eve-teasing. Shahnawaz succumbed to his injuries. In a retaliatory move, seven people from Shahnawaz’ community lynched the two cousins later in the day. The murders triggered worst communal riots in Muzaffarnagar, leaving 60 dead and 50,000 displaced.

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