Jhankar murder case: Assam court grants life imprisonment to 12

Diphu: A district session court of Assam’s Karbi Anglong district while giving the quantum of punishment on Friday sentenced life imprisonment to all the 12 convicts in the infamous Jhankar Saikia mob lynching case.

As per the judgment provided by the Diphu session court on Friday, it is said that 12 convicted persons in connection to the case will have to face six months of rigorous imprisonment under section 147 of IPC, one-month imprisonment under section 341 of IPC, six month imprisonment under section 323 of IPC and life imprisonment under section 302 of IPC with a fine of Rs.2000.

Notably, the 12 convicts in connection to the gruesome mob lynching case are namely Biswajit Hanse, Hitesh Rabha, Bikram Tisso, Ribinson Teron, Mongolsing Rongphar, Junsing Teron, Sarsing Teron, Sanjoy Rongphar, Sarlongri Terang, Enush Timung, Philipson Taro and Binong Terang.

Speaking to media persons after court’s quantum of punishment hearing, special public prosecutor Durga Prasad Jaiswal said that the court has given life imprisonment to the 12 convicted persons under section 302 of Indian Penal Code, six-month imprisonment under section 323 of IPC and one-month imprisonment under section 341 of IPC and 6 months imprisonment under section 147 of IPC.

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Meanwhile expressing dissatisfaction over the court’s decision, defense lawyer, Manash Sarania said that the judgment given on Friday is not satisfactory as the court did not judge properly who were the actual perpetrators and how Jhankar Sakia was killed. He further alleged that the court while giving the pronouncement said that two of the convicted persons were captured in video footage during the time of the killing but it could not table up evidence or proof to show their involvement.

“We say they are not involved. If they are really involved and prosecuted under section 341 and 320 of IPC, their punishment cannot go beyond 1 year of imprisonment. But in no way the two convicted persons cannot be punished under Section 302 of IPC of life imprisonment,” Sarania said.

Revealing their future moves, Sarania significantly informed that as they are not happy with the judgment provided by the district session court and they we will soon appeal to the Gauhati High Court.

Earlier on June 25, 2013, a college student identified as Jhankar Saikia and his lawyer father Haren Saikia had an altercation regarding an Auto-rickshaw fare, as a result of which Jhankar was allegedly beaten to death in Diphu market. Following the gruesome incident, the district police registered a case with number 95/13 under section 294, 325, 307, 109, 147, 148, 149, 337, 338, 302 and 34 of IPC.