A local court in Bihar has sentenced Congress leader and Minister of State for Rural Development Ravindra Nath Mishra to life imprisonment in a murder case related to the Assembly elections of 1990.
The Special MP-MLA court of Chhapra had last week convicted the Congress leader for his alleged involvement in the death of one Uma Bean on February 27, 1990. On Tuesday, the court decided the quantum of punishment.
Mishra was a former Minister in the Rabri Devi-led RJD government in Bihar. As per the case, on February 27, 1990, when voting was going on, booth numbers 175 and 176 of Manjhi block were attacked by some people with the intention of looting the booths.
Some former ministers were present on the occasion, who allegedly indulged in shooting. The firing led to a stampede. Uma, who had come to exercise his franchise, was shot dead during the firing.
An FIR was filed against the former minister in the Manjhi police station on behalf of Presiding Officer of Booth No. 175 Pranay Kumar Malik and Polling Agent of Booth No. 176 Mahesh Prasad Yadav.
While Mallick refused to identify anyone, Mahesh Yadav filed an FIR implicating independent candidate Ravindra Nath Mishra and his brother Harendra Mishra in the murder. The Minister’s brother was acquitted for lack of evidence.