Conspiracy to deny justice
BJP leaders have created a massive controversy around the words CM Kumaraswamy has said to the police officer who called to inform him regarding the murder of a JDS leader who was close to the CM, in Maddur of Mandya district recently. Kumaraswamy has already clarified his words and the emotions behind those. But using these words as a pretext, leader of opposition BS Yeddyurappa of the BJP is trying to ensure HDK is being seen as a culprit in the whole episode. But would it not be better if the BJP leaders had one look at their own national leaders?
It is rather significant to note that BJP national president Amit Shah and the other 22 accomplices went scot free in the fake encounter case in 2005 of Sohrabuddin, his wife Kausar Bi and their associate Tulsiram Prajapati. The investigation that took place around this 13 year old incident is ridden with doubts. Justice S J Sharma who heard this case had expressed deep dissatisfaction over the inability of the CBI to prove the charges against the accused. Among the 210 witnesses, about 92 turned hostile. Justice Sharma in his verdict noted that three lives were lost, but nothing can be proved in the court without evidence and that he'd offer consolation to the families of Sohrabuddin and Tulsiram. The helplessness of the justice is clearly visible in this.
Evidences have been wiped out in this case of Sohrabuddin fake encounter, his wife Kausar Bi's rape and murder along with Tulsiram's murder as well. Investigation hasn't followed proper procedure purposefully so that the court can be misled. Even the justice himself noted this aspect. In all, this case put the judge in a helpless space where he'd be forced to declare all the accused free owing to shoddy work by both the police and CBI.
Amit Shah was the home minister of Gujarat when Sohrabuddin fake encounter happened. About 38 people including Shah were accused and chargesheeted of planning and executing this murder. Supreme Court had instructed the CBI to conduct an inquiry into the matter. But even before the inquiry started, 16 people were declared innocent including Vanzara and Amit Shah. CBI Court was shifted to Mumbai owing to safety concerns. Amit Shah was absent on many occasions when the case was being heard. Judge of CBI special court JT Utpat had to issue a strict directive demanding Amit Shah's presence in the court on June 24, 2014. But then Utpat was transferred on June 25, immediately a day before this date. Justice Loya died under mysterious circumstances on December 1 in Nagpur. New justice was named on December 15. The case was heard again on December 17 and the verdict was out in December 30. About 16 people including Amit Shah were acquitted.
One aspect is very clear from this. Gujarat police didn't investigate the matter well. Crucial evidences and witnesses were destroyed. Tapes of conversation between higher police officers and between Shah and Vanzara went missing or were destroyed. In the meantime BJP assumed power in 2014 at the centre. CBI then lost interest in the case. It never appealed to the court against the acquittal of Shah and others. Witnesses were not provided with any security. System kneeled down before the powerful. Former DIG DG Vanzara is saying in the open that had Sohrabuddin and Prajapati not been killed, they would have posed a threat to the lives of Shah and Modi. This is the law and order situation in this nation.
Gujarat is a landmine of encounter deaths. The numbers are big. Former minister Garden Pandya was killed in his car when he was out for a walk on a morning. He was privy to very significant information regarding Gujarat massacre. He fell prey to mysterious bullets fired by unknown persons. When crime sits on the throne such loss of lives becomes the order of the day. Those who are sitting in the chairs of power have destroyed the autonomy and sanctity of democratic institutions. They have illegally jailed those who have spoken against them. Our administration is being used for such personal vendetta.
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Kerala court sentences man to life imprisonment for murder of doctor at taluk hospital
Kollam (Kerala) (PTI): A teacher convicted in the sensational murder of Dr Vandana Das inside a hospital here was sentenced to life term on Saturday, and the prosecution said it will move an appeal seeking death penalty for the accused. The victim's family also batted for "maximum punishment".
Dr Das was brutally killed inside a taluk hospital in May 2023 by G Sandeep.
The Kollam Additional District and Sessions Court sentenced Sandeep to a total of 30 years for various offences under the then Indian Penal Code (IPC) and said that after he serves that period, his life imprisonment for Das' murder will commence, SPP Prathap G Padickal told reporters.
The detailed judgement is awaited.
The special public prosecutor said that he will recommend to the prosecution to file an appeal seeking enhancement of the life imprisonment to death penalty.
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He said that the prosecution had sought the maximum punishment for Sandeep, "but the court probably felt it was not a rarest-of-rare case" and that is why death penalty was not given.
The victim's father said that the verdict has come as a relief for the family, but he cannot authoritatively say whether his daughter has got justice.
He indicated his dissatisfaction with the punishment, saying that steps will be taken to seek its enhancement after discussions with the public prosecutor.
Dr Das' mother said that the family can only wish for the maximum punishment and it was up to the court to decide what sentence should be given.
She said that the family will go in appeal, but declined to comment on whether her daughter got justice.
She tearfully said that she wants the convict to suffer the same pain that her daughter underwent "as he stabbed her 27 times".
The court on March 17 had convicted Sandeep for various offences under the IPC, including murder, destruction of evidence and wrongful restraint.
It had also held him guilty under the provisions of the Kerala Healthcare Service Persons and Healthcare Service Institutions (Prevention of violence and damage to property) Act 2012.
Sandeep was brought to the taluk hospital by the police for medical treatment during the small hours of May 10, 2023 and he went on a sudden attacking spree using a pair of surgical scissors kept in the room where his leg injury was being dressed.
A school teacher by profession, he had initially attacked the police officers and a private person who had accompanied him to the hospital and then turned on the young Dr Das, who could not escape to safety.
She was stabbed several times and later succumbed to her injuries in a private hospital in Thiruvananthapuram where she was rushed following the attack.
Dr Das was a native of the Kaduthuruthy area of Kottayam district and the only child of her parents.
She was a house surgeon at Azeezia Medical College Hospital and was working at the Kottarakkara taluk hospital as part of her training.
Sandeep had called the emergency number 112, claiming that his life was in danger. When local police located him, he was standing close by his home, surrounded by local residents and his relatives, and had a wound on his leg following an alleged quarrel.
He was then taken to the hospital for dressing the wound.
