UDHAMPUR, Dec 26: Bringing closure to a brutal crime that shook the Chenani area, the Court of Principal Sessions Judge, Udhampur, Virinder Singh Bhou, today awarded rigorous imprisonment for life to five accused in a murder case registered in 2020. The verdict was delivered in connection with FIR No. 135/2020 of Police Station Chenani.
The convicts have been identified as Pahar Singh alias Parshotam, Radha Devi, Harish Singh, Anil Singh and Arnood Singh alias Rajesh. They were tried in Sessions Case (Murder) No. 13/2021 and held guilty of murder, attempt to murder and other allied offences under the Indian Penal Code and the Arms Act.
According to the prosecution, the crime stemmed from an illicit relationship between Pahar Singh and Radha Devi, which was strongly opposed by Vijay Kumar, the brother-in-law of Radha Devi, and Gurdeep Singh, her husband and the complainant in the case. The opposition reportedly led to a planned and violent attack.
The court observed that on the intervening night of December 12 and 13, 2020, around 1 am, all the accused forcibly entered the house of Gurdeep Singh by breaking open the door. They assaulted Vijay Kumar with sticks, a toka and an iron pipe, inflicting grievous injuries. Gurdeep Singh was also attacked during the incident and sustained serious injuries but managed to survive. Vijay Kumar later succumbed to the injuries caused during the assault.
After a detailed appreciation of oral and documentary evidence, the court held that the prosecution had successfully established the charges beyond reasonable doubt. It found all five accused guilty of murdering Vijay Kumar and attempting to murder Gurdeep Singh. The court further recorded that accused Pahar Singh had destroyed crucial evidence, attracting punishment under Section 201 IPC.
The court also noted that Anil Singh was found in possession of and had used a sharp-edged weapon during the crime, leading to his conviction under Section 4/25 of the Arms Act.
As part of the sentence, all five convicts were awarded rigorous life imprisonment under Section 302 IPC along with a fine of Rs 10,000 each. They were also sentenced to 10 years’ rigorous imprisonment under Section 307 IPC with a fine of Rs 5,000 each, and seven years’ rigorous imprisonment under Section 458 IPC with a fine of Rs 5,000 each. Additional sentences and fines were imposed under Sections 147, 148 and 323 IPC. The court directed that all the sentences shall run concurrently.
The Union Territory was represented by Public Prosecutors Hemanshu Parkash and Vinay Sharma, while the defence was led by advocates Imtiaz Mir, Jahangir Iqbal Ganai and Obaid Imtiaz.
The verdict has been seen as a strong message against violent crime and an affirmation of the judicial process in delivering justice after a thorough examination of evidence.