Assam: 10 sentenced to life for "witch-hunt"
Guwahati: A district sessions court sentenced ten individuals to life imprisonment for the brutal killing of a couple at Palashbari in Kamrup, Assam in 2009.
The couple, Bishnu Rabha and Suroshi Rabha were burned alive on suspicion of witchcraft nearly 15 years ago.
The judgement, delivered last Monday, marked the culmination of a long and arduous legal battle for the victims' family.
The ten convicts, including four women, were found guilty under sections 302 and 201/34 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for murder and criminal conspiracy.
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They were also slapped with a fine of Rs 20,000 each.
The court identified the perpetrators as Sondev Rabha, Prasen Rabha, Niku Rabha, Niranjan Rabha, Bipul Rabha, Fatik Kachari, Bicky Rabha, Urmila Rabha, Malaya Rabha, and Jaymati Rabha.
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The deceased couple's son and daughter-in-law shared their ordeal of seeking justice for over a decade.
They also highlighted the ongoing threats and intimidation faced by the convicts' family members.