A local court today sentenced a former counter-insurgent to 6 years rigorous imprisonment for killing his wife two decades ago.
Principal Sessions judge Bandipora Mohammad Ashraf Malik sentenced Farooq Ahmad Malik and also imposed fine of rupees one lac on the convict.
Malik attacked his 21-year old wife Zareena Bano with a hot iron rod in 1995. After battling for life for 21 days, she breathed her last at Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences Srinagar (SKIMS).
Banoos’ husband was booked in FIR 217/1995 under section 302, 342, 201 RPC.
However court had found the accused guilty under
304 (culpable homicide not intention to kill) and pronounced the judgment today.
Judge said the fine shall be paid to the parents of the victim and the period already undergone in confinement during trial shall be set off against the sentence awarded. The convict has to undergo further 18 months of imprisonment if he failed to paid the fine.
The accused was represented by advocate Shauaib Deewani while victim was represented by public Prosecutor advocate Shafeeq Ahmad Bhat.
Counsel for the accused had pleaded for a lenient view stating that he has already suffered agony of prolonged trial for 16 years with about 4 years in confinement during which he must have been subjected to mental torture and tension.
Advocate Deewani stated that the only circumstances calling for somewhat hard stance against him is the infliction of the burns upon the area in and around the secret parts of his wife which according to him to a greater extent is mitigated by a prolonged trial spread over 16 years.
Counsel for the convict also contended that the probability that victim would have died due to infection of the wounds and other serious sickness as the victim also suffered from left hamaprisis is a mitigating circumstance warranting leniency in imposition of sentence to the convict.