2 sibling pairs get life term for murder

Tribune News Service

Ambala, May 20

A sessions court in Ambala has sentenced two sibling pairs for the cold-blooded murder of a youth in Saha near here in September 2015. However, the court acquitted six persons named as accused in the case as the prosecution was not able to prove their guilt beyond reasonable doubt.

Sessions Judge Vikram Aggarwal ordered the convicts — Sunil Kumar (30) and Ravi Kumar, alias Bunty (20), brothers and residents of Saha in Ambala, and Rajesh, alias Parveen (29), and Rakesh Kumar (26), brothers and residents of Balana in Ambala, to undergo imprisonment for life under Sections 302 and 34 of the IPC and pay a fine of Rs 50,000 each, one-year rigorous imprisonment under Section 323 of the IPC, five-year RI under Section 506 of the IPC and two-year RI under Section 25 of the Arms Act, besides paying Rs 10,000 fine each. In case of default of payment of the fine, the convicts shall undergo further RI for three and a half years, the court ruled.

“Admittedly, Jasbir Singh, alias Jassi, was murdered in cold blood with a knife. The convicts also caused hurt to other persons, besides criminally intimidating them. A person who can take the life of another person in cold blood does not deserve to live himself. However, at the same time, the young age of the convicts is also to be kept in mind. They have families to support. Keeping in view the entire aggravating and mitigating circumstances, I do not find the case to be falling in the category of the ‘rarest of rare cases’. I, therefore, choose the lesser of the two punishments prescribed under Section 302 of the IPC and sentence the convicts in the following terms,” the Sessions Judge noted in a judgment pronounced here today.

The substantive sentences of the convicts shall run concurrently. The period of custody already undergone during investigation or trial of this case by the convicts shall be set off against their substantive sentences, the court ordered.

The allegation against the accused was that on September 27, 2015, they, while being members of an unlawful assembly and in prosecution of the common object of that assembly, committed the murder of Jasbir Singh, alias Jassi. They are also alleged to have caused hurt to other persons — Sumit Singh, Pawan Kumar and Rajesh. Accused Sunil and Rajesh were also found in possession of a knife each.

“This court has arrived at the conclusion that the prosecution has been successful in establishing the guilt of accused Sunil Kumar, Ravi Kumar, alias Bunty, Rajesh, alias Parveen, and Rakesh Kumar but has not been able to prove the guilt of accused Sunder Ram, Manju, alias Anju, Dimple, Gurpreet, Manga and Ravi, son of Mangat Ram, beyond reasonable doubt. Accordingly, accused Sunil Kumar, Ravi Kumar, alias Bunty, Rajesh, alias Parveen, and Rakesh Kumar are hereby held guilty of commission of offences punishable under Sections 302, 323 and 506 read with Section 34 of the IPC. Accused Sunil and Rajesh Kumar are also held guilty of commission of the offence punishable under Section 25 of the Arms Act, 1959. Accused Sunil Kumar, Ravi Kumar, alias Bunty, Rajesh, alias Parveen, and Rakesh Kumar are, accordingly, convicted thereunder. However, accused Sunder Ram, Manju, alias Anju, Dimple, Gurpreet, Manga and Ravi are acquitted of the charges framed against them. They are discharged of the bonds,” the Sessions Judge ordered.

The convicts

Sessions Judge Vikram Aggarwal ordered the convicts — Sunil Kumar (30) and Ravi Kumar, alias Bunty (20), brothers and residents of Saha in Ambala, and Rajesh, alias Parveen (29), and Rakesh Kumar (26), brothers and residents of Balana in Ambala, to undergo life term under Sections 302 and 34 of the IPC and pay a fine of Rs 50,000 each...