PRITPAL SINGH Vs. THE STATE OF PUNJAB

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Pritpal Singh appellant, who is a young lad of 15/16 years, stands convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment on a charge of murder of the deceased.

(2.) Alleged immoral attentions of the deceased towards the sister of the accused are said to have actuated the latter to take the life of the former.

(3.) The prosecution case in brief is that Baldev Krishan deceased, who was an unmarried youngman, was running a grocery shop in village Balkhandi, while his other brothers were living in village Dharamkot. The deceased was in the village for about three days prior to the occurrence. On the day of occurrence i.e., 9th February, 1971 at about 9 or 9 -30 a.m. Pritpal Singh accused started abusing the deceased. Rajinder Pal P.W. 1, brother of the deceased, called to his house Pyare Lal P.W. 3, Lajpat Rai P.W. 4 and one Hans Raj in order to pacify the accused. On being asked by them as to what was the reason for his abusing the deceased, the mother of the accused mentioned that the deceased was in the habit of staring at their house with evil intentions which they could not tolerate. At this, in order to pacify the accused, the above said witnesses prevailed upon the deceased to leave the village and go to village Balkhandi, where he was running his shop. About half an hour thereafter the deceased started for village Balkhandi on a cycle. He was accompanied by Rajinder Pal P. W., his brother, who had come to see him off upto the maingate of the street. When the deceased was about to cross the said gate, the accused who was hiding behind the wall of the gate, emerged with a knife in his hand and and saying 'be prepared, you would not be allowed to escape' plunged his knife in the neck of the deceased. Besides Rajinder Pal P.W. the occurrence was witnessed by Pyare Lal P.W. The accused ran away from the spot carrying the knife with him.