Early Times Report
jammu, Apr 26: Principal sessions judge, Kathua, Sanjay Dhar today awarded life imprisonment to a woman for murdering another woman at the latter's residence in ward No 10, Kathua, in 2012.
As per the charge sheet, Jaswant Singh lodged a report with Kathua police station on October 24, 2012, stating therein that his aunt Soma Devi, who had residing all alone in her house in ward No 10, had been murdered by some unknown persons.
He told police that the accused had also robbed Soma Devi of her two gold earrings and two other rings.
During investigation, police picked up Raj Kumari for questioning. She later turned out to be the murderer of Soma Devi.
The marriage of Raj's daughter was to be solemnised on October 27, 2012 and she needed gold to make ornaments. A fortnight or so before the incident, she went to Soma's house to invite one Kamlesh Kumari, who worked there as a domestic help. When she saw Soma wearing gold earrings and other rings, she thought of stealing them. Accordingly, she along with her son first went to the house of Kamlesh on October 23, 2012 at about 3.30 pm and then to that of Soma for the purpose of carrying out a survey. After spending some time with Soma, she returned to Kamlesh's house. When it grew dark, she again came to Soma's house and knocked at the door which was closed from inside. Soma opened the door and then allowed her to sleep with her on the bed.
Police said when Soma fell asleep, Raj hit a brick on her head and then robbed her of her gold earrings and other rings. She also tried to break open the lock of other room, but failed. Thereafter she got down from the roof of the house and straightway went to Kamlesh's house. She later gave the stolen rings to goldsmith Anil Kumar to make ornaments for her daughter. These ornaments were recovered by police from the goldsmith on the basis of the accused's disclosure in this regard. The Judge, after hearing the two sides, observed that the case did not fall in the category of "rarest of rare cases". "Therefore, in proof of offence under section 302 of RPC, Raj Kumari is sentenced to undergo life imprisonment and pay a fine of Rs 10,000," he ordered.
"In default of payment of fine, she would further undergo rigorous imprisonment for three months. In proof of offence under section 392 of RPC, she is sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for three years and pay a fine of Rs 5,000," the court ordered. |
