SAMAHNI (Kashmir English): The Additional Sessions Court Samahni has delivered a landmark verdict, sentencing three accused individuals to death and life imprisonment for the murder of a shopkeeper.
According to the details, in January 2022, four accused, Abdul Marouf, Nazim Hussain, Abid Hussain, and Muhammad Arshad, killed a shopkeeper Haji Muhammad Sadiq during a robbery in Union Council Baghsar Bandala within the limits of Samahni sub-division.
Additional District Judge Karamat Hussain Nizami announced the verdict today in the presence of the parties and lawyers.
According to the verdict, Abdul Marouf, one of the main accused, has been sentenced to death and fined Rs 1 million, which will be given to the heirs of the deceased.
Marouf was also awarded five years of imprisonment and a fine of Rs20,000 were imposed under 458, 34 APC, while three years of imprisonment and a fine of Rs20,000 were imposed under section 15-2(A) AA.
Furthermore, the accused, Abid Hussain and Nazim Hussain, have been sentenced to life imprisonment for their involvement in the crime under section 302(B)34 APC.
In case of non-payment of the fine, the accused will have to undergo further imprisonment, the verdict read.
Additional Sessions Judge Gulshir Ahmed agreed with the sentence of the accused Abdul Maroof and Abid Hussain, while disagreeing with the extent of the accused Nazim Hussain and acquitted him.
The final decision on the extent of Nazim Hussain’s sentence will be confirmed after the decision from the Supreme Court of the Shariat Appellate Bench of Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
The fourth accused, Muhammad Arshad, is still absconding and evading law enforcement.
The heirs of the deceased and members of the civil society were present in the courtroom during the decision.
The lawyer for the deceased party, Chaudhry Imtiaz Taj Advocate, welcomed the court’s decision, stating that it would serve as a deterrent to potential criminals and help reduce the crime rate in the area.
