Nearly nine years after a woman was burnt alive over a family dispute in Hardoi, a district court has sentenced her brother-in-law and his wife to life imprisonment, relying primarily on the victim’s dying declaration despite key prosecution witnesses turning hostile during the trial
Initially, police named five relatives, including Sahreen’s mother-in-law and other family members.
District judge Rita Kaushik convicted Pappu alias Aslam and Chhuttakki alias Rukhsana and also imposed a fine of Rs 5,000 each. She died during treatment on Dec 19, 2017. The prosecution examined 15 witnesses, including doctors, family members, the magistrate who recorded Sahreen’s statement and the investigating officer.
Prosecutors told the court that Sahreen was confined to a room, assaulted and then drenched with kerosene before being set on fire. Lucknow: Nearly nine years after a woman was burnt alive over a family dispute in Hardoi, a district court has sentenced her brother-in-law and his wife to life imprisonment, relying primarily on the victim’s dying declaration despite key prosecution witnesses turning hostile during the trial. The court held that the victim, Sahreen, was doused with kerosene and set ablaze. Tensions escalated after a tree from the family’s property was sold and she demanded a share of the proceeds for herself and her children. She was first taken to a local health facility in Sandila and later referred to Lucknow. A crucial piece of evidence was Sahreen’s dying declaration, recorded by Additional Magistrate Srishti Dhawan while she was undergoing treatment.
Sahreen’s husband Kaleem had died about six years earlier, after which she continued to live with her three children at her in-laws’ house.
However, after investigation, a chargesheet was filed against Aslam, Rukhsana, Asad Ali and Guddu. Barsati and Guddu died during the trial.