Janjivan Bureau / Guwahati : A fast track court on Wednesday awarded death penalty and life imprisonment respectively, to two persons accused in rape and murder of a 58-year-old teacher at Jamunamukh area in Hojai district of central Assam.
The investigation into the sensational rape and murder case was monitored by the PMO.
The Court of Additional District and Session Judge in Hojai awarded death penalty to accused Mainul Hoque after pronouncing him guilty under Sections 302, 276 (A) and 201 of the IPC while another accused Selimuddin was sentenced to life imprisonment sans any provision for parole after the court held him guilty under Sections 302 and 201 of the IPC. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 20,000 each on the two accused.
The 58-year-old teacher was accosted and murdered by the two accused on May 31, 2017 when she was returning home after taking classes in the Lower Primary School where she had been working for years. Her body was thrown into the Kopili river by the accused.
A case was registered at Jamunamukh police station in this regard even as the gruesome crime created mass protests all over the state.
Assam Police at the instance of the state Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal had sent a high-level team from police headquarters to help the investigating team on the ground while a team of CID also helped in the investigation. The PMO later called for a written report about the progress of investigation in the case.
Investigating officer Abhisek Bodo filed the chargesheet before the fast track court within 90 days and the trial began in October 2017.
