SRINAGAR: The Principal Sessions Court, Shopian, has sentenced a man to life imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh for the murder of a man during an altercation over an orchard-related dispute in 2019.
Principal Sessions Judge Shopian Mehmood Ahmad Chowdhary convicted Bilal Ahmad Seh, son of Abdul Ahad Seh, a resident of Urpara Nagbal, Zainapora, under Section 302 of the Ranbir Penal Code (RPC) in connection with FIR No. 19/2019 registered at Police Station Zainapora.
The case relates to the death of Kamal Adfar, son of Abdul Rashid Parrah, who sustained a knife injury during an altercation at Nismhall Humhuna, Nagbal, on April 8, 2019. He was shifted to Zainapora Hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries.
According to the prosecution, the incident occurred following an altercation over an orchard-related dispute, during which Bilal Ahmad Seh allegedly inflicted a knife blow on Kamal Adfar’s chest.
The accused was arrested on April 21, 2019, and the weapon of offence was subsequently recovered from an orchard at Nismhall on the basis of his disclosure, the prosecution submitted.
During the trial, the prosecution examined 16 of the 18 witnesses. The evidence of two expert witnesses was admitted by the defence without cross-examination. The prosecution case was supported by ocular, medical and forensic evidence, besides the recovery of the weapon.
After examining the evidence, the court held that the prosecution had established beyond reasonable doubt that Bilal Ahmad Seh had inflicted the fatal injury on the deceased and convicted him under Section 302 RPC.
The court sentenced him to life imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh.
Meanwhile, the court acquitted Mohd Ahsan Seh, Heema Jan and Mst Aasia Jan, observing that the prosecution had failed to establish their complicity in the offence. (GNS)
