LIFE IMPRISONMENT TO A LOVER

LIFE IMPRISONMENT TO A LOVER

12-AUG-ENG 2

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

SASARAM-------------------------A hearing regarding the sentencing took place on Tuesday in a case involving the murder of a young woman from Jharkhand, which occurred a year ago on February 10, 2025, within the Dhodang police station area. The court of District Judge (IV) Anil Kumar sentenced the convicted accused, Sonu Kumar—a resident of Puto Road, Ghaghra, Gumla district, Jharkhand—to life imprisonment and imposed a fine of ₹30,000.

The case was registered as Dhodang Police Station Case No. 13/2025, and the trial proceeded under Sessions Case No. 335/2025. Additional Public Prosecutor Anil Kumar Singh, representing the prosecution, stated that the incident occurred on February 10, 2025, in a field belonging to Ram Dular Singh in Chitavanpur village, under the Dhodang police station's jurisdiction. A blood-stained body of a young woman was recovered from the field. Her family members later identified her as a resident of the Bishunpur police station area in Jharkhand.

According to the prosecution, the accused, Sonu Kumar, had lured the young woman under the pretext of taking her to Prayagraj with the intention of marriage. En route, near Chitavanpur village, he murdered her using a knife.

During the investigation, the police discovered that the accused had met the deceased in October 2022, and the two had been in a romantic relationship. The young woman had become pregnant in 2024. Subsequently, Sonu refused to marry her. Following this, the deceased's sister lodged a complaint against Sonu at the Gumla Women's Police Station; however, a compromise was later reached between the two.

It was reported that their marriage had been scheduled for the month of Phagun in 2025. During this period, Sonu remained in constant contact with the deceased. On the day of the incident, Sonu summoned the young woman to Lohardaga via a text message. She went missing shortly thereafter, without the knowledge of her family. The prosecution presented the testimony of 14 witnesses in court. Based on the witnesses' statements and available evidence, the court convicted the accused, Sonu Kumar, sentencing him to life imprisonment and imposing a fine of ₹30,000.