A sessions court in Bahraich, Uttar Pradesh, delivered a death sentence on Friday to a 27-year-old man for the brutal murder of his 10-year-old cousin, a killing the judge categorized as falling within the "rarest of rare" category. The court found that Anoop Verma committed the act as part of a human sacrifice ritual driven by occult beliefs.
The Gruesome Crime and Court's Stern Verdict
Fourth Additional District and Sessions Judge Sunil Prasad pronounced the order after hearing arguments on the quantum of sentence. The prosecution, led by Additional District Government Counsel Sunil Jaiswal, had pressed for the maximum punishment, arguing that the convict committed an "extremely heinous and barbaric offence." The defence plea for leniency, citing Verma as the sole earning member of his family, was rejected by the court.
Apart from the death penalty, the court also imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh on Anoop Verma. Failure to pay this fine will result in an additional one year of simple imprisonment. However, the prosecution could not prove the involvement of two co-accused, Chintaram and Jangli, who were consequently acquitted by the court.
Chilling Details of the Planned Ritual Murder
The case dates back to March 23, 2023, when an FIR was registered at Nanpara police station in Bahraich district under sections of murder and criminal conspiracy. The body of 10-year-old Vivek Verma was discovered in a field with severe injuries.
Investigation revealed that the child was killed by his own cousin, Anoop Verma, in a premeditated ritual sacrifice. Verma believed the act would cure his ailing son and bring prosperity to his family. The court noted that on the day of the murder, a family mundan ceremony was taking place at Verma's in-laws' home, where most relatives were gathered. Anoop Verma deliberately stayed back in the village, creating an opportunity to commit the crime.
In a twisted turn, it was Anoop Verma himself who informed the victim's father via phone about discovering the child's body.
Circumstantial Evidence and Forensic Proof
The conviction relied heavily on a strong chain of circumstantial evidence presented by the prosecution. Key elements included:
- The recovery of the murder weapon, a broken spade, at Anoop Verma's instance.
- Forensic findings confirming the presence of human hair on the weapon.
- Medical evidence from the post-mortem report.
The post-mortem examination established that the victim suffered nine ante-mortem injuries, including incised wounds near the trachea and chest. The cause of death was determined to be asphyxia due to an ante-mortem tracheal injury. The court observed that this method was consistent with practices used in ritual sacrifices.
The chargesheet in the case was filed on April 26, 2023, and charges were framed on October 30, 2023. The trial proceedings commenced on November 7, 2024, with key prosecution witnesses including Kishun, Budhram alias Kamlesh Kumar, and Dhruv Kumar testifying.
The court's judgment emphasized the brutality of the crime, the breach of familial trust, and the calculated planning behind it, leaving no room for any punishment lesser than death.
