Muzaffarnagar : In a case of gruesome attack on a UP family and gangrape of three women at gunpoint by armed men who barged into their house to rob them in 2015, a Hathras court has sentenced one of the gang members to imprisonment for the entire duration of his life along with a fine of Rs 75,000.
The court also questioned why no proper investigation had been conducted against the 8-9 other accused over the years, and “whether anyone was responsible for allowing them to benefit from the lack of probe”.
Additional district govt counsel (ADGC) Dinesh Pal Singh said on Friday that the court also ordered a departmental inquiry against the police officer who initially probed the case for “collecting false evidence and concealing facts”. Terming the lapses by the first investigating officer, inspector Suresh Chauhan as “grave irregularities”, the court directed that copies of the judgment be sent to Lucknow DGP, Aligarh DIG and Hathras SP for “appropriate action”.
The ADGC added: “On Dec 16, 2015, armed men entered the family’s Hathras house at night, tied up the male members and raped three women before fleeing with cash, jewellery and livestock. The additional sessions judge (SC/ST Act) Harsh Agarwal convicted Zahid under IPC sections 376-D (gangrape), 395 (dacoity), 397 (dacoity or robbery to cause death…) and 412 (dishonestly receives or retains any stolen property). ” According to the prosecution, Zahid was caught while the others managed to flee. Additional charges relating to gangrape were later added. During the trial, prosecution relied on the victims’ testimony along with other witnesses as well as documentary evidence.
Court Orders Life Sentence and Compensation for Victims
A court has confirmed that the evidence presented by the prosecution met the standard of proof required for a conviction. As a result, the convict has been sentenced to spend the rest of his life in prison. Additionally, the court mandated that the victims receive compensation from the fine imposed on the convict, in accordance with legal provisions.