Firozabad POCSO Court Delivers Verdict in 2021 Honor Killing Case
A POCSO court in Firozabad has delivered a significant verdict in a tragic honor killing case from May 2021. On Wednesday, the court sentenced two adult men to life imprisonment and a third convict, who was a minor at the time of the crime, to 15 years in jail for the murder of their 20-year-old relative. The court also imposed a collective fine of Rs 2.55 lakh on the three convicts, as confirmed by additional district government counsel Avesh Shukla on Thursday.
Details of the Crime and Court Proceedings
The case dates back to May 16, 2021, when the victim, Pushpendra Singh, visited his sister's house in what would become a fatal encounter. According to the victim's sister's testimony in court, her brother had developed a relationship with a woman from her in-laws' family and frequently visited their home. On that fateful night, after her husband invited Pushpendra to stay over, the woman went to meet him in his room, leading to a confrontation.
The sister recounted, "My husband saw them together and began shouting. He and an older male relative threatened my brother with a knife. I, along with my mother-in-law, tried to intervene and calm the situation." However, the situation escalated dramatically around 3 a.m. when she heard a gunshot. Rushing to her brother's room, she found him bleeding from his stomach, with one man holding a pistol and the other two pinning him down.
Despite her pleas to take him to a hospital, the men allegedly watched as he succumbed to his injuries. The sister further testified that the perpetrators later threatened her at gunpoint, warning her not to disclose the incident to anyone. She eventually returned to her parents' home and informed her family, leading to police involvement.
Legal Actions and Sentencing
Following the incident, police registered a case under IPC Section 302 (murder) and other relevant provisions. Charges were filed a few weeks later, with two of the accused remaining in jail since their arrest. The minor accused was initially lodged in a juvenile home and later released on bail during the proceedings.
After a thorough examination of evidence and witness testimonies from both sides, the court of additional district and sessions judge Mumtaz Ali pronounced the sentences. The two adult convicts received life imprisonment, while the minor was sentenced to 15 years in jail, reflecting the court's consideration of the gravity of the crime and the circumstances involved.
This verdict underscores the judicial system's stance against honor-based violence and highlights the ongoing efforts to address such crimes through legal channels in the region.
