AMRU RAKHA Vs. CROWN

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THIS is an appeal by Amru, aged 18, who has been convicted and sentenced to transportation for life by the Additional Sessions Judge, Jullundur.

(2.) ON 23rd June 1944, at about sunset, Amru convict and Ratan Singh attacked the deceased Bhola near the shops of Chhaju and Bebari, who are prosecution witnesses in this case, using a kirpan and a barchha. Bhola had as many as 24 injuries and according to the doctor he must have died almost instantaneously. The first) information report was lodged by Sucheta a bro- ther of the deceased, on the same day at about 11-30 p. M. Ratan 8ingh was arrested but Amru absconded. Ratan Singh was tried and sentenced to death and that sentence was confirmed by the High Court at Lahore. Amru was arrested later on and he was put up for trial before the learned Additional Sessions Judge of Jullundur and was convicted as I have said before and sentenced to transportation for life.

(3.) THE motive for the crime is stated to be the gift by a widow Mahan Kaur of half the estate of her husband, which came to about 20 Khomauns, in favour of Bhola deceased. On her death the other half which was in her possession was mutated in favour of Ratan Singh and others who were the collaterals of Mahan Kaur's husband. Ratan Singh had asked Bhola to return the land which had been gifted to him but he refused and this is stated to be the reason why this murder was committed.