Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)
Mangaluru, Oct 7: The fourth additional district and sessions court here has sentenced a person from Kinnigoli in Maddaka, Beltangady taluk, to five years rigorous imprisonment (RI) besides imposing a fine of Rs 75,000. The convict from the said village, identified as Ahmed Hamid (35), has been found guilty of abetting the suicide of his wife.
Hajira from Parlottu House, Netlamudnur in Bantwal taluk had married the accused on January 18, 2007. The couple got a female child in about 18 months since marriage. In course of time, allegedly Hamid started to deride his wife, accusing her of being ugly-looking. The harassment and mental torture increased by the day, frustrated at which Hajira started living in her parental home. Hamid bagged a job abroad, and from there too he used to call his wife over phone and inflict mental torture to her, it is said.
Depressed and frustrated at this behaviour of her husband, Hajira tried to end her life by consuming poison on March 31, 2011. She fell seriously ill, and was taken to Pragati Hosppital at Puttur the next day, and then to A J Hospital in the city on April 4. Hajira died on April 4, orphaning her three-year old daughter.
Vittal police, who investigated the suicide, had booked Hamid for abetting his wife's suicide. Even though Hamid continued to live abroad, inspector, Rakshit A K, concluded the investigation and filed charge sheet in the court against Hamid. When Hamid came back to his native place in 2013, he was arrested. After spending about two weeks in judicial custody, he was released on bail.
In the judgement delivered on October 6, judge of the court, C M Joshi, concluded that the prosecution had succeeded in proving Hamid guilty of the charges levelled against him. He also ordered that the accused should undergo nine additional months of imprisonment in case of failure to pay fine, and that out of the fine amount, Rs 50,000 should be handed over to Hajira's daughter. He also asked Legal Services Authority to provide all eligible relief to the girl from the government.
Uniqueness of this judgement lies in the fact that there were no eyewitnesses, and the case has been judged on the basis of circumstantial evidences. Public prosecutor, Raju Poojary, had represented the prosecution in this case.