By Srijita Chakraborty
In a case that shocked the city and exposed the perilous nature of obsession, a court in the Indian city of Pune has sentenced a 22-year-old man to life imprisonment for the murder of a national-level kabaddi champion, who was just 15.
Additional District and Sessions Judge, S.R. Salunkhe, convicted Shubham alias Rishikesh Bajirao Bhagtal for murdering the teenager, who had refused his one-sided romantic overtures. A fine of ₹5,000 was imposed upon the convicted offender as well.
This is what happened to the victim way back in October 12, 2021, when she, who is a Class 8 student and also the only child of her parents, was assaulted by the accused in Yash Lawns, Bibwewadi. It is also reported by the prosecution that she refused to talk to the accused and made it clear to him that she doesn’t have any interest in him. After her refusal to accept him, Bhagtal allegedly stabbed her several times in front of many people, although only 25 cuts were found in her body.
The case was registered in the Bibwewadi police station itself, as it was lodged by the complainant, who happened to be the cousin of the victim. In this trial, there were 12 witnesses who were cross-examined by the prosecution, including eye-witnesses.
Special Public Prosecutor Hemant Zanjad called the offense extremely brutal and sought the maximum sentence. Though appreciative of the heinous offense, the court held that it is not of the “rarest of rare” variety to demand the death sentence, again reaffirming the rule that life imprisonment is the norm and the death sentence the exception.
While the family of the victim gets a form of justice, the loss, however, cannot be repaired.