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Death Sentence for Ritual Killing in Bahraich
10 Jan
Summary
- Man sentenced to death for ritualistic murder of his 10-year-old cousin.
- The brutal crime was deemed 'rarest of rare' due to its calculated planning.
- The murder weapon, a broken spade, was recovered at the convict's instance.
A sessions court in Bahraich has handed a death sentence to Anoop Verma, 27, for the heinous murder of his 10-year-old cousin. The court deemed the crime exceptionally brutal and meticulously planned, fitting the "rarest of rare" category. Verma committed the act as part of a human sacrifice ritual, believing it would cure his ailing son and bring prosperity.
The prosecution successfully argued for the maximum penalty, highlighting the barbarity of the offense. Verma was also fined Rs 1 lakh, with a default sentence of one year simple imprisonment. In contrast, co-accused Chintaram and Jangli were acquitted due to insufficient evidence of their involvement.
The investigation, initiated on March 23, 2023, involved a chain of circumstantial evidence. This included the recovery of the murder weapon, a broken spade, and forensic and medical reports detailing nine ante-mortem injuries. The court found the cause of death consistent with ritualistic sacrifice methods.
