A man in Jammu and Kashmir has been sentenced to death for beheading his mother over a piece of land. Jeet Singh, a resident of Ramnagar, was found guilty of murdering his mother Vaishno Devi in 2014.
Singh had been demanding land rights from his mother, and when she refused, he attacked her with a sickle before chopping off her head with an axe. He also attempted to kill his wife when she tried to come to the rescue of her mother-in-law.
“The offence of murder committed by the convict seems to be a pre-meditated one. The convict has committed the offence of murder upon the old defenseless mother by first attacking her with a sickle on the neck and thereafter chopping off her head with an axe in a very inhuman and barbaric manner,” said Principal Sessions Judge, Udhampur, Haq Nawaz Zargar in his judgment on Saturday.
The court found Singh guilty of murder, attempt to murder, and violation of the Arms Act. In addition to the death sentence, he has been sentenced to 10 years rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 3,000 for attempt to murder, and three years rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 2,000 under the Arms Act.
“This case falls within the ambit of rarest of rare cases and therefore, accused Jeet Singh does not deserve any leniency in the sentences to be awarded to him except sending the convict to the gallows would be adequate,” the judge said.
The case serves as a reminder of the importance of resolving disputes peacefully, and highlights the need for effective intervention to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future. The verdict sends a clear message that such crimes will not be tolerated in any society and that the perpetrators will be brought to justice.
(Inputs from PTI)
The Chenab Times News Desk