RAJ KUMAR
Ranchi, July 19: The POCSO court, which had convicted Mohammad Sahid Akhtar and Sahajadi Khatoon, on July 12 for killing a seven-yr-old girl after 9 years of trial, today pronounced judgment on their quantum of punishment.
Akhtar was awarded life imprisonment while Khatoon was awarded a jail term of 10 years. Apart from this, an amount of Rs 50000 cash was also imposed on them.
Public prosecutor in the POCSO court Mohan Rajak informed the court that the judge of the court Asif Iqbal delivered the judgment after considering all the facts and circumstances.
“Akhtar was awarded punishment for committing murder and tampering with the evidence while Khatoon was awarded punishment for tampering with evidence related to murder,” Rajak said.
It was a unique case which arose on April 24, 2013 after an FIR was registered in this connection at Doranda police station in the city centre. The FIR was registered a day after a seven-year-old girl, Pari (name changed), was murdered.
The police could ascertain the accused after about 7 years after the incident. It named Mohammad Sahid Akhtar and Sahajadi Khatoon, who are close relatives of the deceased, as accused. They had committed murder to hide their illicit relationship.
As many as 22 witnesses, including four Superintendents of Police were examined in the case. The court also had to examine brain mapping and narco test reports.
It would have been difficult to ascertain the accused if the Jharkhand High Court had not intervened into it taking suo-moto cognizance in the matter and giving direction to assign responsibility of investigation to SPs.
When the FIR was registered there was allegation of rape also but during the trial it could be proved beyond reasonable doubts.
