Conviction of naxals is not a regular phenomenon in Jharkhand but Palamu civil court made a mark when a couple of days back the court of additional district judge four G K Dubey convicted nine (9) accused and sentence them to life imprisonment.
The life imprisonment came in a murder case which took place on Feb 2, 2009 in Sheikhpura Kazi Bigha in Hussainabad wherein a contractor Parvin K Singh was killed.Kishore Kumar Srivastava the principal district and sessions judge (PDJ) Palamu civil court is of the opinion that witnesses do not do what they are most expected to do in the court of law.
Srivastava said the witnesses retract their own statements, refuse to acknowledge their own signatures and indulge in all such activities which mar the prospect of the conviction.Srivastava said there came up a case of Panki wherein an informant in his court just denied his own signature but when the court toughened its stand and asked the informant not to get any smart as his specimen of signatures would be sent for examination to prove these were all his then only the informant agreed to acknowledge his signature taking further a plea that it was obtained on a plain paper!
The PDJ said when informant like this who had lodged the FIR so turns away in the court talking of too many convictions is just a wishful thought nevertheless the battery of judicial officers are committed and dedicated to deliver fair free and prompt justice Srivastava reiterated.
The PDJ further said news of conviction has its salutary effect on the errant of the society and hence it should be talked of he suggested. In naxal cases witnesses develop cold feet reminded Srivastava.Quite recently the ADJ 4 G K Dubey observed in his judgement that although the case ‘is not a rare to the rarest case’ nevertheless the court is convinced that all the nine are ‘active members of the extremist group’. Their sentencing to life was beyond any reasonable doubt. Their bail bonds were cancelled and they were taken into custody on April 21 immediately the day the point of sentence was read out by the additional district judge four G K Dubey.The nine convicted of life are Bigu, Shanker, Virender,Jay Ram, Rajender,Bijay, Rakesh, Rambachan and Rabinder.
The deceased’s mother Utimraj Devi and wife Sabiya showed exemplary courage, determination and grit to take this case to its logical end said court sources. One court employee said had these two women not remained strong and bold to give deposition the conviction would have been a far cry. This court employee said the deceased’s other family members used to fumble while giving witness in the court.