A man from Ukhrul in Manipur convicted of beating his wife to death has been sentenced to 10-year rigorous imprisonment with a fine of Rs 20,000.
Session Court, Ukhrul judge W Tonen Meitei on Wednesday pronounced the 10-year sentence to the convict with a fine of Rs 20,000 under Section 304-part-II IPC.
One 42-year-old Themmithan Phungchamnao of Langdang village in Ukhrul district was convicted on January 6 of beating his wife Jessy Zingkhai to death at their residence at Narep Meizailung, Ukhrul on May 2, 2015.
The court order stated that the convict should give a fine of Rs 20,000 within two years beginning January 13, failing which he will undergo another six-month rigorous imprisonment.
The court, in its judgment, observed that the convict is a local cultivator and he has no other means for earning more than the amount he manages to get for survival. Therefore, the court has not awarded compensation for the victim out of the fine imposed against the convict.
However, since there is the Victim Compensation Scheme under the National Legal Services Authority as well as State Legal Services Authority and a provision under section 357A CrPC, adequate compensations should be awarded to the dependents of the deceased, Jessy Zingkhai, the court stated.
The court stated that the compensation for the victim should be paid by the state government under the Victim Compensation Scheme through District Legal Service Authority, Ukhrul in consultation with the Manipur State Legal Services Authority. The quantum of compensation should be fixed by the DLSA, Ukhrul, it stated.
The court ruled that the convict has been in judicial custody since May 2, 2015, and the period of detention undergone by the convict should be set off against the sentence of imprisonment.
The victim succumbed to her injuries on May 2, 2015, as a result of the physical assault inflicted on her body by the accused on May 1 without premeditation or criminal intent not amounting to murder, the court stated.
