In a first since independence in Manipur, court awards death penalty to man for murder

Written by Jimmy Leivon |Imphal |Updated: February 6, 2019 1:45:05 am

The police report mentions that Rohit hit the girl with a wooden stump and strangulated her with a rope while Farish muffled the victim's mouth.

Rohit was convicted under section 302 and 201 IPC, while Shah was awarded life imprisonment and Rehana and Farjina were given three years and six months simple imprisonment respectively. (Express photo)

Terming it as one of the “rarest of rare” cases, a sessions court in Manipur’s Senapati district on Tuesday awarded death penalty to a man convicted of murder. This is the second death sentence awarded in the state since Independence and a first to a person charged with murder. Sessions Judge A Noutuneshwari convicted Yumkhaibam Rohit alias Rajesh, 29, for murdering his girlfriend. The court also directed Manipur State Legal Services Authority to give the victim’s father Rs 10 lakh as compensation within 60 days.

“In my considered view, maximum punishment should be awarded and it should be an eye opener for the society at large in order to prevent such brutal and heinous crime in our society,” the judge said. The three other convicts in the case are Y Md Farish Shah, Rehena and Farjina. Rohit was convicted under Section 302 and 201 of IPC, while Shah was awarded life imprisonment and Rehana and Farjina were given three years and six months simple imprisonment respectively.

“As the crime committed by the convicts are so inhumane, barbaric and merciless and their intention and motive were beyond the thoughts of a rational human being, such cruelty deserves to be wiped out and there is no mitigating factor to deter in other alternative punishment,” the judge said. The incident took place on August 14, 2018, at Kshertrigao Thambalkhong Makha Leikai, in Imphal East district at Farish’s residence. As per police investigation, the girl befriended Rohit on Facebook in February 2018 following which they started meeting frequently and entered into a physical relationship.

However, on August 14, the couple had an argument after the girl pressured Rohit to elope. The police report mentions that Rohit then hit the girl with a wooden stump and strangulated her with a rope while Farish muffled the victim’s mouth. Rohit also smashed the girl’s head and face with a stone several times before fleeing with her ornaments. The police completed its investigation within a month and submitted the charge sheet against the convicts on January 15. The trial was completed in a record 20 days after the court examined and recorded the statement of 28 prosecution witnesses. Noutuneshwari, who is also a special judge of POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) in Senapati, on July 31, 2018, had awarded death sentence to a 21-year-old who was convicted for rape and murder of a four-year-old girl in 2015.

Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/north-east-india/manipur/first-since-independence-manipur-court-awards-death-penalty-to-man-for-murder-5570769/ (accessed 07 February 2019). 

Court awards death sentence to man convicted of rape and murder of infant (Manipur)

IMPHAL | Jul 31, 2018 : 

In a landmark judgment special judge of POCSO, Senapati, A. Noutuneshwari Devi, today awarded death penalty to a 21-year-old man, by hanging till death for rape and murder of a 4 year old girl three years ago.

R. David, 21 year old man

This is the first death sentence awarded to a convict in Manipur post-independence of the country. The last death sentence was awarded to three war heroes of Manipur by the British in August 13, 1891, for waging war against the Empire. The court announced the judgment a day after 21 years old, R. David was convicted under section 6 POCSO Act and 302 IPC for committing the crime. As per police report it was Christmas day 2015, when the 4 year old victim was raped and murdered at stable in the vicinity of Maram Kavanam Village.

The convict was arrested on December 27, 2015 after the Mao police took up a suo motto case in connection with the rape and murder of the minor girl. According to police report, the crime committed by the accused was all known by the villagers but it was settled through customary law between the two families after compensating for the death. “In fact, it is one of the rarest of the rare cases which happened in a remote village and without considering the gravity of the offence committed, the victim was buried following customary practice. If such an offence committed by the convict is taken lightly then there will be no safe place for our children in the society”, said the judgment order of the court.

Following the suo motto, on December 28, 2015 the body of the deceased girl was exhumed and post mortem conducted in presence of a magistrate. Signs of strangulation and sexual assault then was establashed. On July 5, 2018, the court framed charge against the accused under section 6 POCSO Act and 302 IPC after examining 21 witnesses. “There is no mitigating factor to deter in other alternative punishment. In my considered view, maximum punishment should be awarded and it should be any eye opener for the society at large in order to prevent such brutal and heinous crime in our society. This court has delivered justice to the victim as well as to the society through earnest effort given by the investigation agency especially the then 2nd OC of Mao police station”. The court also recommended for awarding the compensation of Rs. 25 lakhs to the deceased mother as per NALSA.

Source: https://www.ifp.co.in/page/items/51035/court-awards-death-sentence-to-man-convicted-of-rape-and-murder-of-infant/ (Accessed 25 December 2018)

Court awards death sentence in 2015 rape, murder case; first in state since Independence (Manipur)

Written by Jimmy Leivon |Imphal |Updated: July 31, 2018 8:44:50 pm 

According to the police report, the villagers knew about the crime which was settled in a hushed way by compensating the parents of the victim internally.

R. David, 21 year old man 

A district court in Manipur on Tuesday awarded death penalty to a 21-year-old man in a 2015 rape and murder case of a 4-year-old girl. The sentence is first of its kind in the state since independence. Special judge, POCSO, A. Noutuneshwari Devi, announced the verdict a day after R David was convicted under section 6 of POCSO Act and section 302 of IPC. As per the police report, the victim was raped and murdered at a stable in the vicinity of Maram Kavanam Village in December 2015. The convict was arrested two days later after the Mao police station registered a suo motu case.

According to the police report, the villagers knew about the crime which was settled in a hushed way by compensating the parents of the victim internally. Following the registration of the case, the body of the deceased girl was exhumed and a post-mortem was conducted in the presence of a magistrate. The reports concluded sexual assault and death from strangulation. Charges against David were framed on July 5, 2018, after examining 21 witnesses during the course of the hearing.

Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/north-east-india/manipur/manipur-court-awards-death-sentence-in-2015-rape-murder-case-first-in-state-since-independence-5285228/ (Accessed 25 December 2018)