STATE OF J&K Vs. BHIM SINGH AND ANOTHER

JUDGEMENT

(1.) - This is a criminal acquittal appeal filed by the State against the judgment dated 12.12.2013, whereby the trial court has acquitted the respondents after their trial for offence under section 306 RPC on a charge sheet arising in FIR No. 18/2009 of Police Station, Gool.

(2.) Heard Mr. R.S. Jamwal, learned Dy. AG appearing for the State and Mr. O.P. Thakur, Adv. for the respondents.

(3.) The prosecution case as it was set out before the trial court, briefly, is that there was a proposal for marriage of the deceased, Neelma Devi, with respondent No. 1, Bhim Singh and their engagement was settled. The proposal, however, did not materialize. Thereafter, respondent No. 1 and respondent No. 2 (Rano Devi), who is sister in law of respondent No. 1, started harassing the deceased. On 26.04.2009, PW Hukam Singh, who is a cousin of the deceased, had come to Ramban where he met respondent No. 2. Respondent No. 2 told him that engaged of the deceased was scheduled for 27.04.2009 and that as the deceased is now getting married in her village, they will not allow her to live peacefully. She also threatened to defame the deceased. PW Hukam Singh narrated the matter to the deceased on 28.04.2009. The deceased could not tolerate what respondent No. 2 had said and having been fed up with the harassment and unjust treatment meted out to her by the respondents she consumed poison in the night intervening 29th and 30th April, 2009 and died on 30.04.2009. FIR No. 18/2009 in this regard was registered at Police Station, Gool. After investigation, charge sheet under section 306 RPC was filed against the respondents.