Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)
Mangaluru, Apr 1: The additional district and sessions court here has sentenced both Kamalaksha Purusha (80) and his accomplice, Chandrakala (30) from Kampadakody in Yeyyady here to life imprisonment for killing a three and half year old female child on December 16, 2010, The accused had confessed during the hearing to have killed the child of their neighbour by smothering her for appeasing certain spirits as part of witchcraft they practised at their home and adjacent shrine.
The court has also imposed a fine Rs 80,000 on them. The sentences were pronounced on Thursday March 31, after holding the accused guilty on Wednesday. Purusha has been found guilty of crimes under section 302 of Indian Penal Code, and has been fined Rs 50,000. If he fails to pay up the fine, he will have to undergo five additional years of imprisonment. Purusha has been handed down an additional three years of rigorous imprisonment and fine of Rs 10,000 under section 201 relating to destruction of evidence. If the fine is not paid, he will remain behind the bars for one more year.
Chandrakala has been given life imprisonment along with fine of Rs 10,000 under section 302. Failure to pay fine will entitle her for an additional jail term of a year.
Out of the total fine collected, the judge has ordered Rs 10,000 to be remitted to the government, and to pay the balance to Firan Kumar Jha, father of the victim. Recommendation has also been made to the district legal service authority to disburse eligible compensation to the father of the child.
Earlier news
Mangaluru: Killing of child for black magic - Two accused held guilty
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)
Mangaluru, Mar 31: Relating to inhuman killing of a three-and-a-half-year old female child by smothering it in 2010 as part of sorcery rituals, the fourth additional district and sessions court, after holding series of hearings, has found the accused guilty of the crime they have been charged with. Quantum of their sentences are likely to be pronounced on Thursday March 31.
The court has found Kamalaksha Purusha (80) and Chandrakala (30) from Kampadakody in Yeyyady here guilty of the above heinous act. Judge of the court, Nerale Veerabhadrayya Bhavani, found the accused guilty of involvement of crimes covered under section 302 (murder) and 201 (attempt to destroy evidence).
Three-and-a-half-year-old Priyanka, daughter of Firan Kumar Jha and Anjali Devi couple living in a rented house near the house of Kamalaksha Purusha had been escorted to her home by Chandrakala often. On December 16, 2010, she carried the child home, duly taking care to see that no one noticed her. Kamalaksha Purusha had smothered the child by holding her neck tight that day during rituals aimed at appeasing evil spirits. The body of the child was found next day lying under areca nut fronds covered by ants in an areca nut plantation. There were signs of hot water having been poured over the child's body, which bore burn injuries. The then Kadri police inspector, Niranjan Aras, initially investigated the case, after which the case was handed over to assistant commissioner of police, Raveendra K Gadadi. Gadadi had filed charge sheet in the court.
About 18 persons were examined during the hearings in favour of the prosecution, while three witnesses were against. Some had seen that Chandrakala had taken the child home, while some others said they had seen performance of puja that day. During hearing, the accused confessed to the crime.
Taking into consideration these facts, and also on the basis of postmortem reports which confirmed that burn injuries were found on the child's body, the quantum of sentences would be decided. In early stages, public prosecutor, Pushparaj Adyantaya, had placed arguments in the case, after which it was taken over by public prosecutor, Harishchandra Udyavar. The public prosecutor has sought stringent punishment to the guilty and payment of compensation to the affected persons.
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