Honour killing: 2 get death sentence

The court of sessions judge, Panchkula, RK Sondhi, on Wednesday sentenced a father-uncle duo from Uttar Pradesh to death for the honour killing of a 15-year-old girl.

The victim’s uncle Salim (left) and father Shaukeen being taken to the court on Wednesday.
“Sentenced to death and both of them be hanged by neck till they are dead…,” says the judgment. Terming it as honour killing, the court said, “The prosecution has proved the accused did different acts of omissions and commissions …and killed Tahira in cold-blood and buried the body.”

CONVICT FATHER APPROACHED POLICE

Father Shaukeen, a native of Shamli (Uttar Pradesh), complained at the Chandimandir police station on October 23, 2013, that his brother Salim, along with his minor son, had killed his 15-year-old daughter Tahira and buried the body in a mango orchard at Khangesra village (Barwala block of Panchkula district) over her affair with Wasim, alias Gola, a resident of the same village in Shamli.

He claimed that it was Salim who had informed him about murdering Tahira. After getting the team to dig up a spot in the orchard where nothing was found, except ashes, he led the police party and Kalka SDM Manita Malik to Alipur village near the riverbed and demarcated another spot from where a decomposed body was recovered. The mother and relatives of Tahira identified the body on the basis of her clothes.

BJP leader Virender Singh, the owner of the mango orchard, then produced Salim, who was on the run, before the police.

COMPLAINANT BECOMES ACCUSED

On interrogation, Salim confessed to have murdered Tahira, but said Shaukeen had asked him to commit the crime. On police questioning, Shaukeen also confessed to his role.

PLANNING AND MURDER

The prosecution contended that the murder was pre-planned and executed after September 25, 2013. Tahira’s body, put the pit on fire, and buried it at different place on the outskirts of the village.

He claimed that Shaukeen had filed the complaint to prove to his wife that he was not involved.
The minor sons of Salim and Shaukeen are facing trial separately before a juvenile court.