J&K HC changes death sentence to life imprisonment in 2007 Handwara rape-murder case

Srinagar, Oct 19: The Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court has revised its previous judgment by converting the death sentences of four convicts in a rape and murder case to life imprisonment. The convicts were found guilty of the 2007 gang rape and murder of a 14-year-old girl in Handwara, Kupwara district.

Four individuals—Mohammad Sadiq Mir, Jahangir Ansari, Aazar Ahmed Mir, and Suresh Kumar Sasi—were originally sentenced to death in 2015.

However, the High Court bench noted that the case did not meet the threshold for the "rarest of rare" category, which justifies the death penalty. As a result, the death sentences were commuted to life imprisonment, with the stipulation that the convicts will serve a minimum of 25 years without remission.

The court emphasized the importance of ensuring the safety and dignity of women and minors. It asserted that while the death penalty was reduced, strict punishments are essential to prevent such heinous crimes and uphold justice in society.

This ruling has generated discussions about the interpretation of the "rarest of rare" doctrine and the evolving approach toward capital punishment in India—(KNO)