A local court here on Thursday framed murder charges against two accused – a woman and her paramour – involved in murder of the woman’s husband from Khwajapora, Nowgam.
After hearing prosecution and defence counsel, second additional sessions Judge Tahir Khurshid Raina said the material on record reflects a detailed investigation by police and connects accused, Asifa Huriya Jan, wife of deceased Abiroo Shafi Bhat, and moulvi Tanveer Ahmad Bhat of Lelhar Pulwama, in commission of offence.
“I am convinced that material on record prima facie suggests commission of the offence by the accused in putting to death the deceased by strangulation on intervening night of 10 May 2018. Accordingly, they (the accused) stand charged for commission of offences of murder and criminal conspiracy under section 302,120-B RPC,” the judge said.
The court observed that statements of witnesses recorded by police and disclosure memos, which are part of charge-sheet detailing mode and method of putting to death the deceased, followed by recoveries of sedative drugs on identification of the accused have established the crime.
“Medical evidence also corroborates the prosecution story as it opined that prima facie cause of death is strangulation,” the court order said, adding both prosecution and defence counsel have read out witness statements and also of those recorded during police investigation.
“They connect the accused with commission of offence. Electronic evidence is also on record which reflects the intimation between the accused and stand corroborated by other evidence on record,” the court said.
The judge read out the charges to the accused in the open court. While the accused pleaded not guilty and preferred to be tried the court directed prosecution to lead evidences and listed the case for 29 October for next date of hearing.