Court awards life sentence to three accused in 2009 Handwara murder case

Srinagar, Dec 28: A court in Handwara tehsil of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district on Thursday pronounced life sentences to three accused in a 14-year-old murder case.

Abdul Rashid Beigh was murdered during a scuffle in 2009, which the public prosecutor termed as “soul-shaking one”.

An official said the Additional Sessions Judge Handwara has convicted the accused in case FIR No. 128/2009, under sections 148, 149, and 302 RPC, Police Station Handwara. "After thorough hearings from both sides, the court also deliberated on the quantum of punishment," he said.

He said that the trio - Bashir Ahmad Mir, Habibullah Mir, and Manzoor Ahmad Beigh have been sentenced to life imprisonment and 3-year rigorous imprisonment under section 302 RPC.

"Also, they face a 3-year imprisonment term under sections 148 and 149 RPC, coupled with a fine of Rs. 10,000 each," the official said.

"Other accused involved in the case have been handed down varying sentences," he said, adding that the remaining accused parties are subjected to 2 years of imprisonment with a fine of Rs. 1000 under sections 147 and 149 RPC, while Mst Raja wife of Manzoor Ahmad Beigh (accused No. 8) and Mst. Fehmeeda wife of Ghulam Rasool Mir (accused No. 9) received a punishment of 1 year for the offense under section 323 RPC. "All sentences are set to run concurrently," he added.