TORANG MUNDA Vs. STATE OF ASSAM

JUDGEMENT

(1.) IN a silent hamlet surrounded by tea gardens, inhabited mostly by the tea garden workers, a bizarre spine chilling incidence of beheading 5 live human beings, in front of a huge gathering of villagers took place on 18.3.06 at Kachariline, Sakumatha Tea Estate. The innocent victims fell pray of superstitious hitherto disremembered by the civilized world. justification of beheading of fellow being was on the pretext of practicing witchcraft (black magic). On 18.3.06, at about 4:00 PM, line Chowkidar, Sidha Mun-da (CW.3) informed Sri Rabindra Singh, the Sr. Manager of Sakumatha Tea Estate that 5 members of the same family, namely, Amir Munda, Nawra Munda, Ladori Munda, Kakulu Munda and Phulmoni Munda, were brutally killed by co-workers of Sakumatha Tea Estate on the excuse of practicing witchcraft. The informant (PW.3) on getting the information from the line Chowkidar (CW.3), filed an FIR before local police station. On receipt of the FIR, the police registered a case and started investigation.

(2.) ON completion of the investigation, the investigating police officer chargesheeted the appellants alleging commission of offence punishable under Section 147/148/302/149 IPC . After filing of the chargesheet, the case was committed to the Court of Sessions, for trial.

(3.) THE accused Tarun Munda preferred a separate appeal bearing Criminal Appeal No. 46/2010 against the order of conviction and sentence passed by the trial court and rest of the accused/appellants preferred appeal from jail, which registered as Criminal Appeal No. 25(j)/2010.