A court in Jharkhand's Koderma district has delivered a long-awaited verdict, sentencing three men to rigorous life imprisonment for a murder committed over two decades ago. The Additional District and Sessions Judge-III, Rakesh Chandra, pronounced the sentence on Thursday, bringing a measure of closure to a tragic case from the year 2000.
The Fatal Attack and Police Case
The court found Vivek Kumar Pandey, Rajesh Yadav, and Nitesh Kumar Pandey, all residents of Satganwa, guilty under Section 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code. Their victim was Vikas Kumar Pandey, also from Satganwa. The grim incident dates back to March 2000.
According to the case details, the murder stemmed from a violent altercation. The accused were assaulting Vikas's cousin brothers, Saurav Pandey and Rohit Pandey. When Vikas intervened to save them, the attackers turned on him. He was brutally beaten with a rod and a stick.
Critically injured, Vikas was first taken to Koderma Sadar Hospital. Due to the severity of his wounds, he was referred to a hospital in Ranchi. Unfortunately, he succumbed to his injuries there. Following the death, Jitendra Kumar, a relative of the deceased, filed a First Information Report (FIR) at the Satganwa police station on March 11, 2000.
The Court Proceedings and Final Verdict
The prosecution, led by Public Prosecutor Praveen Kumar Singh, built a strong case against the accused. During the trial, the prosecution examined a total of 16 witnesses to establish the guilt of the three men. Given the brutal nature of the crime, the prosecution urged the court to award the maximum punishment permissible under the law.
Advocate Bachchan Devnath Arya presented the arguments for the defence. After meticulously considering all the evidence and witness testimonies presented over the years, the court concluded that the prosecution had successfully proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.
Judge Rakesh Chandra convicted the three accused under IPC Section 302. Apart from the sentence of rigorous life imprisonment, the court also imposed a fine of Rs 20,000 on each convict. The court ruled that failure to pay this fine would result in an additional six months of simple imprisonment for each offender.
A Long Road to Justice
This verdict marks the end of a legal battle that lasted for more than 23 years. The sentencing underscores the judiciary's commitment to delivering justice, even in cases that span decades. The ruling sends a strong message about the serious consequences of violent crime and the judicial system's role in upholding the rule of law at the grassroots level.
For the family of Vikas Kumar Pandey, the life term awarded to his killers represents a significant, though bittersweet, milestone in their quest for justice for the life lost while trying to protect family members.
