Soumya murder case: Kerala HC confirms death sentence on accused

December 17, 2013

Soumya_murder

Kochi, Dec 17: Kerala High Court today confirmed the death sentence awarded to Govindachamy by a Fast Track Court for brutally raping and causing the death of a 23-year-old woman after pushing her out of a moving train on February 1, 2008.

A division bench, comprising justices T Ramachandran Nair and B Kemal Pasha upheld the death sentence awarded by the FTC at Thrissur in November that year, saying "there is absolutely nothing to interfere in this case."

The bench also criticised the 'lukewarm' response of Indian Railways and the attitude of fellow passengers of the victim, who was returning home to Shornur from her workplace at Ernakulam, when the incident took place.

Pointing out there is no safety in ladies' compartments. the bench said that even after the incident, the compartment was at the rear end of the train.

The judges suggested the ladies compartment be placed in the middle section and two women guards be posted.

The bench held that the attitude of the fellow passengers was 'disgustful'. Had they offered a helping hand, this untoward incident could have been avoided.

It said there is need to create awareness among the public to rise to the occasion.Inaction of fellow passengers was more painful than the brutal action of the accused, the judges observed.

The prosecution case was that Gonvidachamy had pushed Soumya out of the compartment of the Ernakulam-Shornoor passenger train on Feb 1 after first trying to rob her. He then raped the seriously injured woman, who died on Feb 6.

The prosecution also pointed out that Govindachamy, a native of Tamil Nadu, had already been convicted in eight cases in that state.

The FTC had held the brutal rape was one of the reasons for the victim's death and that the nature of the crime was savage and had shocked society.

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News Network
April 24,2020

Thane, Apr 24: A 34-year-old man was allegedly attacked on suspicion of being a COVID-19 patient and died after falling into a gutter during the assault in Kalyan town of Maharashtra's Thane district, police said on Friday.

The incident took place on Wednesday morning, when Ganesh Gupta had stepped out of his home to purchase some essentials amid the COVID-19 lockdown, an official said.

On noticing some policemen manning the street, the victim took an alternate route, where a few passersby assaulted him after he coughed while walking, he said.

The men suspected him of being a COVID-19 patient and attacked him, causing him to fall into a gutter and die, the official said.

The deceased's body was sent for post-mortem and a case of accidental death has been registered as of now, the station house officer of the Khadakpada police station said.

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Agencies
July 7,2020

Meerut: The licence of a private hospital in Uttar Pradesh’s Meerut has been suspended after a video showing its staff member providing fake Covid-19 report had gone viral.

"A video had gone viral in Meerut. We have registered a case in this regard. We have suspended the licence of the nursing home. Today, we have sealed it also. Strict action will be taken against anybody who will do something like this in this time of crisis,” said Anil Dhingra, District Magistrate, Meerut.

In the video, the person can be heard saying that they provide Covid-19 negative report for Rs 2,500, Dhingra stated.

Meerut CMO Rajkumar said, “In the video, a man from the hospital can be heard saying that he can arrange COVID-19 negative report and the person can get operation or other things done. We have identified the man. We have suspended the licence of the hospital and an FIR has been registered.”

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Agencies
January 21,2020

Tengnoupal, Jan 21: A woman IPS officer has alleged that a rifleman of Assam Rifles physically assaulted and molested her at a check post near Moreh town in Manipur's Tengnoupal district, police said on Tuesday.

Based on a written complaint of the IPS officer, an FIR has been registered against rifleman P K Pandey and a summon has been issued to him to appear before the concerned police station, the police said.

Manipur DGP L M Khaute told reporters on Monday, "We have made contacts with the Assam Rifles authorities. A complaint has been lodged by the officer." In her complaint, the IPS officer said that on reaching Khudengtabi check post on Sunday afternoon one of her escorts, who was not in uniform, told the frisking party of Assam Rifles to register their entry.

Despite showing their identity cards, the rifleman allegedly detained them, she said.

"We offered to search ourselves and the vehicle, but he was not interested", she said.

The rifleman began hitting the official vehicle and "misbehaved, humiliated, harassed and assaulted me and my escort personnel," she alleged.

The IPS officer also alleged that the rifleman molested her and when her escorts tried to intervene, he thrashed them.

She further accused the rifleman of making "sexually coloured" remarks against her, using abusive language and even tried to snatch her phone when she tried to call her senior officers.

The issue was brought under control after the matter was reported to the Brigadier of 26th Assam Rifles and the Major of the D-company of 12th AR, police said.

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