BAREILLY: The court of additional district and sessions judge Subhash Singh in Lakhimpur Kheri awarded life imprisonment to a farmer, 75, and his son, 52, for murdering a college student, who wanted to marry a girl of their family, 31 years ago.
The case dates back to 1992, and the verdict came on Thursday. The 19-year-old victim, Gyanendra Kumar Tripathi, who used to study in a college in Sitapur district, was visiting his family in Neemgaon area of Kheri when he was kidnapped and later shot dead by the two men for their ‘family honour’. During questioning, the main accused, Suresh Chandra Mishra, told the police that Tripathi had tried to commit robbery in their house and, hence, they shot him dead with a licensed gun.
Senior prosecuting officer (SPO) SP Yadav told TOI, “Mishra and his family tried to divert the case by claiming that Gyanendra, along with some unidentified people, had attempted to rob their house and immediately lodged an FIR even before the victim’s family came to know about his demise. Later, a cross FIR was registered against Suresh, his son Ramlotan and two others under relevant IPC sections at Mitauli police station in Kheri.”
Yadav said, “Seven years after the incident took place, a CB-CID probe revealed that Tripathi was killed for having an affair with Mishra’s daughter. The family did not approve of it as he was from a ‘lower Brahmin gotra’. Three love letters written by the girl helped the investigating team in nailing the accused. Thereafter, a chargesheet was submitted in the court under IPC sections 302 (murder) and 34 (criminal acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention). The case trial finally started in 2006.” The other two persons who were booked in the case were minors and they are being tried by the juvenile justice court.
Additional district government counsel Kapil Katiyar said, “The autopsy report stated that the victim was assaulted before he was shot dead. He had multiple injuries on his body and a deep wound on his head. After examining the testimony of nine witnesses and the evidence produced by us, the court pronounced Suresh and his son guilty and sentenced them to life in prison, along with a fine of Rs 20,000 each. The time spent by the two men in jail before getting bail will be adjusted against their term.”
The case dates back to 1992, and the verdict came on Thursday. The 19-year-old victim, Gyanendra Kumar Tripathi, who used to study in a college in Sitapur district, was visiting his family in Neemgaon area of Kheri when he was kidnapped and later shot dead by the two men for their ‘family honour’. During questioning, the main accused, Suresh Chandra Mishra, told the police that Tripathi had tried to commit robbery in their house and, hence, they shot him dead with a licensed gun.
Senior prosecuting officer (SPO) SP Yadav told TOI, “Mishra and his family tried to divert the case by claiming that Gyanendra, along with some unidentified people, had attempted to rob their house and immediately lodged an FIR even before the victim’s family came to know about his demise. Later, a cross FIR was registered against Suresh, his son Ramlotan and two others under relevant IPC sections at Mitauli police station in Kheri.”
Yadav said, “Seven years after the incident took place, a CB-CID probe revealed that Tripathi was killed for having an affair with Mishra’s daughter. The family did not approve of it as he was from a ‘lower Brahmin gotra’. Three love letters written by the girl helped the investigating team in nailing the accused. Thereafter, a chargesheet was submitted in the court under IPC sections 302 (murder) and 34 (criminal acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention). The case trial finally started in 2006.” The other two persons who were booked in the case were minors and they are being tried by the juvenile justice court.
Additional district government counsel Kapil Katiyar said, “The autopsy report stated that the victim was assaulted before he was shot dead. He had multiple injuries on his body and a deep wound on his head. After examining the testimony of nine witnesses and the evidence produced by us, the court pronounced Suresh and his son guilty and sentenced them to life in prison, along with a fine of Rs 20,000 each. The time spent by the two men in jail before getting bail will be adjusted against their term.”