Bhanu P Lohumi

Tribune News Service

Shimla, September 5

In a historic judgment, the District and Sessions Court, Shimla on Wednesday sentenced all three convicts, Chander Sharma, Tajender and Vikrant, to death in the sensational murder of four-year-old Yug.

Describing the heinous crime as “rarest among rare”, the court awarded death sentence to the convicts under Section 302 (murder) and 364(a) (kidnapping for murder for ransom), seven years imprisonment under Section 201 (destroying evidence), three years imprisonment under Section 347 (wrongful confinement for extortion) and one year imprisonment under Section 506 and 120 B, (criminal intimidation and criminal conspiracy).

The court also imposed a fine of Rs 50000, Rs 20,000 and Rs 10,000 under Sections 201,347 and 506 and extended the sentence in case of default in payment of fine.

The entire sentence would run concurrently and accused have been afforded one month time for filing appeal in the high court.

Welcoming the judgment, father of Yug, Vinod Gupta said we faced hell for the past four years but today finally justice has prevailed. The grandmother, mother and paternal and maternal uncle of the deceased boy were in tears as the judgment was pronounced.

“It is the first ever case in Shimla district in which three persons have been given death sentence,” said district attorney Randip Parmar adding that it is a lesson to the society so that such incidents are not repeated in future.

The four-year old, Yug Gupta, who was abducted from his courtyard in busy Ram Bazar in the heart of the town on June 14, 2014, was killed after seven days, even before the first call for ransom of Rs 3.6 crores was made.

His skeletal remains were recovered two years later from a water tank of Shimla Municipal Corporation in Kelston area on August 21, 2016, after the enquiry was handed over to CID (Crime) branch.

The CID (Crime) has recorded the statements of 105 persons. Ten reports, including DNA report pertaining to matching of remains of Yug with his parents, diatomic report ascertaining that he was dumped in water alive and biological reports were included in the chargesheet filed against Chander Sharma, Tajender and Vikrant on October 25, 2016.

The other evidences submitted in the court included four reports from the physics division comparing photographs retrieved from one of the accused, Vikrant’s mobile with the background, handwriting on ransom letters, verification of ink and pen used and other scientific evidence.

Yug was kidnapped by his neighbour Chander Sharma who lured him by offering a chocolate and took him to Tajender Singh’s godown situated just above Yug’s house.

Later, he was whisked away to Chander’s rented house at Ram Chandera Chowk in a sports utility vehicle (SUV) belonging to Tajender.

Yug’s clothes were burnt to destroy evidence. The kid was tortured, kept naked, forced to drink liquor and dumped in water tank tied with a stone alive on June 21, 2014, seven days after the abduction.

Shocked by the incident, locals came out on the roads, markets were closed and protests were held outside the Vidhan Sabha from where the protesters marched to the high court. Demonstrations, hunger strikes and candlelight marches were also witnessed.

Chronology

June 14, 2014 – Four year old Yug was kidnapped from his courtyard in busy Ram Bazaar area.

June 16 - A criminal case was registered.

June 21- Yug was killed.

June 27 – First ransom letter demanding Rs 3.6 crores was received.

August 14, 2016 - The case was transferred to state CID crime branch.

August 20 – Vikrant was arrested.

August 22 - Skeleton of Yug was recovered from the water tank in Kelston. Chander and Tajender were arrested.

October 25 – CID files chargesheet against three accused in court.

August 6, 2018 - All three accused held guilty.