Shimla, June 24
The Himachal Pradesh High Court in Shimla upheld the conviction of multiple individuals in a high-profile murder case from 2013.
The case, which involved a brutal attack at a toll tax barrier in Bagheri, Solan District, resulted in the death of Naresh @ Gutti and serious injuries to others.
On the night of April 3-4, 2013, a violent altercation broke out at the Bagheri Toll Tax Barrier. The conflict escalated quickly, leading to the severe beating and subsequent death of Naresh.
The assailants, armed with pistols, swords, and rods, attacked the victims in a coordinated assault. The attackers included Gurdev Singh @ Debu, Gurvir Singh @ Jona, Gurcharan Singh @ Bhuru, Sukhvinder @ Bhau, Daljit Singh @ Kankal, and Ashok Kumar @ Rinku, among others.
The police were alerted to the incident by an emergency call. Responding officers found the scene deserted but later discovered Naresh had been transported to the First Referral Unit (FRU) in Nalagarh, where he succumbed to his injuries.
The authorities collected substantial forensic evidence, including blood samples, broken glass, and weapons.
The trial was held at the Additional Sessions Court in Solan, where the accused were charged under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Arms Act. They were convicted of murder (Section 302 IPC), unlawful assembly (Sections 147, 148, 149 IPC), and other related charges. Each convict received a life sentence for murder, with additional sentences for other offenses, including rigorous imprisonment for violations of the Arms Act.
The convicts appealed against the trial court’s decision, bringing the case to the High Court of Himachal Pradesh.
The appeal was heard by a bench comprising Justice Vivek Singh Thakur and Justice Rakesh Kainthla. The court examined the evidence presented during the trial, including eyewitness testimonies and forensic reports.
On June 24, 2024, the High Court delivered its judgement, confirming the convictions and sentences handed down by the trial court.
The judges found the evidence against the appellants overwhelming and upheld the lower court’s findings.
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