In a significant verdict, Special Judge Akhilesh Kumar, presiding over cases under the Dacoity Affected Areas Act, sentenced four individuals to life imprisonment for the kidnapping and subsequent murder of a 14-year-old boy in a case dating back nine years.
The convicts—Amit Rajavat, Satyendra Tomar, Machal Singh, and Dhirendra Singh (also known as Dheeru)—were found guilty after a thorough investigation and trial. The court also imposed a fine of ₹25,000 on each of the accused. In the event of non-payment of the fine, they are to serve an additional six months of imprisonment.
According to the prosecution, on November 17, 2015, a 14-year-old boy, Hariom, left his home in Nagla Lalman village to visit his uncle’s house in Mainpuri for studies. However, he never arrived at his destination. Despite extensive search efforts, his whereabouts remained unknown. On November 21, 2015, Hariom’s family received a ransom call demanding ₹5 lakh for his release. The police registered a missing person report and began an investigation.
During the investigation, acting on a tip-off, the police raided a tube well near Gokulpura village on Kishani Road. The suspects opened fire but were apprehended by the police. Upon interrogation, the accused admitted to kidnapping Hariom from Kishani Chauraha. They also revealed that fearing identification, they strangled Hariom to death and disposed of his body on the Mehgaon-Datia Road. The gang had received ₹1.80 lakh in ransom money, which they were now dividing.
Following the investigation, the police filed charges against the four accused, and the court found them guilty based on the evidence presented by Special Public Prosecutor Gaurav Dixit. The court sentenced them to life imprisonment and imposed a fine on each of them.
This conviction has brought some relief to the victim’s family, while highlighting the commitment of law enforcement to bring justice in such heinous crimes.
