S'garh couple gets life for killing woman

A former ward member and his wife were awarded life imprisonment by the Additional District Judge here for killing a physically-challenged girl in 2011.

The court also imposed a fine of Rs 5,000 under IPC section 302 and another two years’ imprisonment and fine of Rs 1,000 under section 201of IPC for destroying evidences after killing the victim girl.

Sources said physically challenged poor girl Niva (name changed), a resident of Rangamati Ganjutola slum under Brahmani Tarang police station under Sundargarh district had sought financial assistance from Ward member Nakul Singh in 2011. Under the pretext of giving money, Nakul regularly had called Niva to his house and used to keep physical relationship with her, following which Niva had become pregnant. When Niva came to know that she was pregnant, she insisted Nakul to marry her. 

But when Nakul’s wife lalita came to know about this, she opposed it. Niva had sought justice before the local Panchayat, following which a meeting was called. It directed Nakul to accept Niva as his wife. later, Nakul promised to marry her and took her to his house. When Niva became eight months’ pregnant, Nakul and his wife lalita were worried over Niva delivering a child. Thinking that Niva would take share from their property, they planned to do away with her. 

On May 26, 2011, the couple killed Niva by strangulating her. later, they destroyed the evidence by dumping the body in a well.