LUCKNOW, March 29 -- Sixteen people were sentenced to life imprisonment by a local court in Moradabad in connection with a 2011 case involving a violent mob attack on a police team, officials said in a press note issued on Saturday. According to the police, the court of the additional district and sessions judge (Court No. 02), Moradabad, also imposed a fine of Rs.55,000 on each of the convicts. Police officials said the conviction was secured under the state's "Operation Conviction" drive, aimed at ensuring speedy trial and punishment of offenders through coordinated efforts between police and prosecution. According to the press note, the case dates back to July 4, 2011 under Mainather police station limits. A woman had lodged a complaint accusing a local man of trespassing and outraging her modesty, following which an FIR was registered under relevant sections of the IPC on July 5, 2011. After the accused was arrested on July 6, 2011, tensions escalated in the area amid rumours, leading to a large crowd gathering at the police station. The mob allegedly attempted to free the accused, obstructed government work, and vandalised public property. Officials said the situation turned violent as the mob attacked police personnel and later targeted the Dingarpur police outpost, police documents were set on fire, a PAC vehicle was torched, and both government and private property were looted. The mob also resorted to stone-pelting on the station in-charge and allegedly looted government cartridges and other materials. A separate FIR was registered in the matter under multiple serious charges, including rioting, attempt to murder, assault on public servants, arson, and dacoity, along with provisions of the Criminal Law Amendment Act and the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act. On Saturday, the court held 16 accused guilty and awarded life imprisonment along with financial penalties. Police officials said the conviction highlights the state's focus on strengthening law and order and ensuring accountability in cases involving attacks on law enforcement personnel. They added that strict monitoring and effective prosecution played a key role in securing the verdict after a prolonged trial spanning over a decade. About the case The widely discussed Mainather case in Moradabad dates back to July 6, 2011, when Ashok Kumar Singh, a 1995 batch senior IPS officer currently posted as Additional Director General (ADG) in Lucknow, was serving as Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) in Moradabad. On the day of the incident, a police team had gone to arrest an accused in a molestation case. However, the accused and his associates alleged that the police had disrespected a religious book. Soon after, a mob gathered and the situation escalated into large-scale violence. Singh, along with the district magistrate, reached the spot to pacify the crowd. During this, the mob launched a brutal attack on him. The district magistrate reportedly managed to escape from the scene while Singh was surrounded by the mob. The attackers beat Singh mercilessly and left him unconscious, assuming he was dead. He sustained severe injuries and remained admitted in a Moradabad hospital for nearly a month before being shifted to AIIMS Delhi for prolonged treatment. He recovered after undergoing extensive medical care....