Srinagar, Oct 15: A Srinagar court has convicted a man, his mother and brother for the murder of a woman who was smothered to death at her matrimonial home in Bemina in June 2022, holding that medical evidence and the circumstances surrounding her death established their guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
Additional Sessions Judge Srinagar Farooq Ahmad Bhat, in a judgment delivered on October 13, convicted Shahnawaz Ahmad Dar, his mother Hafeeza Begum and brother Parveez Ahmad Dar alias Bilal under Sections 302 (murder) and 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code.
The court acquitted two other accused, Sumiya and Saika, giving them the benefit of doubt after finding insufficient evidence to establish their involvement in the crime.
The case concerned the death of Tasleema, who was found dead under suspicious circumstances at her matrimonial home in Nund-Reshi Colony, Bemina, on June 27, 2022.
According to the prosecution, Tasleema had married Shahnawaz in 2013. Their relationship deteriorated after she was unable to conceive, leading to repeated disputes, alleged physical abuse and pressure from her in-laws.
The court found that the woman had faced harassment over her inability to have children and that her husband had wanted to divorce her.
Evidence presented during the trial showed that Tasleema had spent a considerable period at her parental home following matrimonial disputes. She later returned to her husband’s house after relatives intervened and an arrangement was made for the couple to live separately within the same building.
However, the court found that the hostility towards her had continued.
The prosecution relied heavily on the post-mortem findings, which established that Tasleema died of asphyxia caused by smothering, rather than a natural medical condition.
Doctors who conducted the examination reported multiple injuries and bruises on her body, including marks on her face, lips and arms.
The court rejected the defence claim that she had died from a heart-related ailment, observing that the medical evidence did not support such an explanation.
The judgment said the accused had failed to satisfactorily explain the circumstances surrounding the woman’s death inside the matrimonial home.
The court held that the medical findings, earlier harassment, conduct of the accused and their failure to provide a credible explanation formed a complete chain of circumstantial evidence establishing the guilt of the three convicted persons.
However, it found that the evidence against Sumiya and Saika did not establish their active involvement and acquitted them.
The court also held that the prosecution had failed to establish the charge of destruction of evidence under Section 201 IPC.
Following the conviction, the court ordered that Hafeeza Begum, who was on bail, be taken into custody and lodged in Central Jail Srinagar.
The matter was listed for October 14 for hearing on the quantum of punishment.
