Life-imprisonment to Sanjay Sharma in Jeban Murder case after 23 years

Jammu : While deciding 23 years oldest murder case of the State, Principal Sessions Judge Jammu Vinod Chatterji Koul today awarded rigorous life-imprisonment and fine Rs 50,000 to Sanjay Kumar alias Bitoo S/O Beli Ram R/O Ward No. 8, Tehsil Akhnoor.
On 27.11.1994, there was a shootout in Akhnoor Town after auction for collecting entry fees as regards bus stand, Akhnoor fixed in the office of Notified Area Committee, Akhnoor was over. Two persons sustained injuries in the firing. SHO Police Station Akhnoor Ch. Gulzar Ahmed PW-21 who has on patrol of the town, recorded statement of Darshan Singh S/O Sansar Singh PW-1. He stated that he and his brother Jagdev Singh alias Jeban had taken part in the auction in which 15/16 contractors had participated. The auction was closed in his favour at Rs. 62,000. After depositing the auction money, he and his brother Jagdev Singh accompanied with there/four others left towards the market. When they reached near a shop, namely Sanjay Video Cassettes, Sanjay Kumar and Bishan Dass, who were armed and nourished an old enmity with his brother Jagdev Singh alias Jeban, resorted to indiscriminate firing through mousers with intention of causing his death. His brother sustained serious injuries and was shifted to Medical College, Jammu. In the end, he stated that the occurrence took place at quarter to four afternoon. The SHO endorsed the statement for registration of the First Information Report (FIR) under Section 307/34 RPC and 3/25 Arms Act. Offences under sections 307/34 RPC and 3/25 Arms Act came to be registered as FIR No. 230/94 at Police Station Akhnoor.
Principal Sessions Judge Jammu Vinod Chatterji Koul after hearing Public Prosecutor R .K. Badyal observed that Considering the manner in which the offence was committed and taking over all impression of the nature of occurrence and the prosecution evidence, the case in my considered view falls in the category of the murder cases in which life imprisonment and not the death is appropriate sentence and ordered that Sanjay Kumar alias Bitoo is, therefore, sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for life and to pay a fine of Rs. 50,000/- (Rupees Fifty Thousand) . In default of payment of fine, accused-convict shall undergo further imprisonment of the like nature for a period of one year.