Three sentenced to rigorous imprisonment for life in dowry-related murder

From our Correspondent

MANGALDAI, Aug 2: The Sessions Judge of Darrang, Gautam Baruah, in another exemplary judgment has awarded rigorous imprisonment for life term to a mother-in-law, her husband and her eldest son for killing her daughter-in-law by setting her afire in a dowry related case.

All the three accused persons were found guilty in the pre-planned conspiracy to murder housewife Sanuwara Begum.  They were also awarded a fine of Rs 5000 each in default the convicted persons shall have to undergo rigorous imprisonment for a term of another six months. Awarding the judgment the Sessions Judge directed the Secretary of the District Legal Services Authority to deposit an amount of Rs 50,000 in the me of the three-year old son of the deceased in a bank till he attains adulthood. Significantly, in view of the loss of the life of the deceased housewife, the Sessions Judge directed the District Legal Service Authority to arrange for paying an amount of Rs 50,000 as compensation to the bereaved parents of the deceased housewife. The convicted persons are Abul Ali (50), his wife Firoza Begum (50) and their elder son Liyakat Ali of village Chamuapara under Mangaldai Police Station. However, the court discharged Khasnur Ali –the husband of the deceased from the charges framed against him as prosecution failed to substantiate his involvement in the murder.

According to the case, Khasnur Ali married his neighbour Sanuwara Begum following their relationship, which however, was refused by the parents of Khasnur Ali. Both the father-in-law and mother-in-law and Liyakat Ali, the elder brother of Khasnur Ali reportedly committed physical atrocities on Sanuwara Begum for her failure to bring gold orments and cash amount as dowry. Significantly, it has been also alleged that accused convict Liyakat Ali frequently attempted to establish illicit relation with Sanuwara Begum.  On Januray 18, 2012, all the three convicted persons set fire to Sanuwara Begum who succumbed to her burn injuries in GMCH. Though the police registered a case as per the FIR lodged by the father of the deceased housewife, yet the Investigation Officer Sub inspector MN Bora submitted the Fil Report before the court terming it as a case of accident.

The aggrieved father of the deceased immediately filed a petition before the Chief Judicial Magistrate in Mangaldai challenging the Fil Report submitted by the Investigating Officer.  The Chief Judicial Magistrate accepted the petition for trial and later transferred the case to the Sessions Court for trial. The Sessions Judge Gautam Barua after hearing all the documents and evidences awarded the judgment on July 31.