Life term for Shahzad in Batla encounter case

Suspected Indian Mujahideen operative Shahzad Ahmed was on Tuesday sentenced to life imprisonment by a court here for killing Delhi Police inspector Mohan Chand Sharma during the Batla House encounter in 2008.

Additional sessions judge Rajender Kumar Shastri awarded Shahzad life sentence for killing the police officer and injuring two others, besides a fine of Rs 95,000 for various other offences.

“The convict Shahzad Ahmed is sentenced to imprisonment for life and also a fine of Rs 50,000 for offence punishable under Section 302/34 (murder and acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention). Out of the fine mentioned above, Rs 40,000 to be given to the survivors of deceased inspector M C Sharma,” said Shastri

He said the convict was also sentenced to 10 years’ rigorous imprisonment for offences punishable under Section 307 (attempt to murder) and a fine of Rs 20,000. “The Rs 20,000 be given to injured head constable Balwant,” he said.

For offences punishable under Section 333 of the Indian Penal Code (voluntarily causing grievous hurt to deter public servant from his duty), a fine of Rs 10,000 and seven years’ rigorous imprisonment was awarded. For offences under Section 201 (causing disappearance of evidence of offence), the convict was sentenced to five years’ rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 10, 000. Under the Arms Act, he was fined Rs 5,000 and awarded a three-year prison term.

“All the sentences mentioned above will run concurrently and the convict will be entitled to set off the period of detention already undergone by him during investigation, inquiry and trail of this case,” said the judge.

Shastri noted that the police have the responsibility to bring the perpetrators of the crime to book and chase them wherever they are expected to have hidden. The law obliges every person to assist the police in apprehending the suspect.