Jammu, Jan 28: A local court on Thursday convicted an accused for killing his sister-in-law and awarded him rigorous imprisonment for life. The accused was directed to pay a fine of Rs 10,000.
 The accused, identified as Muhammad Baksh son of Salah Muhammad of Budhan Tehsil Gool who was facing trial in murder of his sister-in-law, was convicted and awarded life imprisonment by the Principal District and Sessions Judge Ramban, Bala Joyti, who announced the Judgement in the open court.
 According to the prosecution, the accused was having an old land dispute with his brother. On September 20, 2005 the accused caught hold of his brother’s wife, Rakheela Akhter wife of Muhammad Mansa, and killed him with an axe.
 The court, while awarding rigorous life-imprisonment and fine Rs 10,000 to the accused, referred various judgments of the High Court and Supreme Court. It was observed that anxious consideration has been given to the facts and circumstances of this case.  Although the accused belongs to a labour class and hails from the backward area of this state, yet the manner in which he has done away the life of an innocent woman of his own family does not call for any indulgent treatment, the court observed.
 It was further held that whereas the duty of law courts was to take reformative steps, it was equally the duty of the courts to maintain deterrence to those creating sinister awe in the society. “The act of the accused is such which calls for severe punishment”, the court held adding, it is, however, difficult to say the case falls within ambit of the ‘rarest of rare’ case, which may attract death penalty.
(JNF)

Lastupdate on : Thu, 28 Jan 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
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