RANCHI, India, Oct. 16 -- Jharkhand High Court issued the following order on Sept. 15:

1. The instant Criminal Appeal is directed against the Judgment and Order of conviction and sentence dated 21.11.2002 and 23.11.2002, respectively passed by learned Additional District and Sessions Judge (Fast Track Court No. II), Civil Court, Gumla in S.T. No. 33 of 2001 whereby and whereunder the appellants namely Somra Oraon and Biri Oraon have been held guilty for the offence under Section 302/34 of the Indian Penal Code and sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for life. Other co-accused namely Suresh Oraon and Lalitesh Oraon @ Luthra Oraon were acquitted from the charges levelled against them by learned trial Court itself.

2. It is pertinent to mention at the very outset that co-appellant namely Biri Oraon died during pendency of this appeal and his appeal has been abated vide order dated 12.08.2025.

Factual Matrix:-

3. Factual matrix giving rise to this appeal is that on 08.09.2000, in the night, on the occasion of KARMA FESTIVAL in the village Khambhia Ambatoli, P.S. Ghaghra, District- Gumla, boys and girls of the village were dancing. It is alleged by the informant Baldev Oraon (P.W.6) that on the said occasion, relatives of Biri Oraon namely Somra Oraon (present appellant), Suresh Oraon and Lalitesh Oraon @ Luthra Oraon were also dancing. In the meantime, an scuffle broke between cousin of the informant namely Sanjay Oraon and all the above three relatives of the accused namely Biri Oraon which was pacified and dance last up to 2 o'clock in the night. It is alleged that after conclusion of the dance ceremony, Sanjay Oraon went to the house of Jinda Oraon for sleeping. Later on, hearing Halla of the villagers, informant went to the house of the Jinda Oraon where he saw that accused Suresh, Lalitesh @ Luthra, Somra and Biri were dragging away to the injured Sanjay Oraon out from the village. It is further alleged that the informant with the help of the villagers saved Sanjay Oraon from the hands of accused persons and accused Somra Oraon and Biri Oraon were caught by the villagers. The other two accused persons namely Lalitesh Oraon @ Luthra Oraon and Suresh Oraon managed to flee away. It is further alleged that Sanjay Oraon was seriously injured but alive and disclosed that Biri Oraon and his relatives have assaulted him by CHHURA (Knife) and BHUJALI, thereafter, Sanjay Oraon succumbed to death due to severe injuries. It is further alleged that the villagers also interrogated with the arrested accused persons Somra and Biri but they started scuffling therefore they have also been assaulted by villagers and sustained some injuries.

On the basis of above information, Ghaghra P.S. Case No. 96 of 2000 dated 09.09.2000 was registered under Section 302/34 of the IPC against aforesaid four named accused persons and charge of investigation was undertaken by S.I., Sri Pramod Ranjan, who after completion of the investigation submitted charge-sheet against all the accused persons for the aforesaid offence.

The case was committed to the Court of Sessions where S.T. No. 33 of 2001 was registered. After conclusion of the trial, impugned judgment of conviction and order of sentence was passed.

*Rest of the document can be viewed at: (https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/ecourtindiaHC/cases/display_pdf.php?filename=WSRFLpK7bpll%2Fzvq9H5YQiyzJbj4LIui5OaJRBavPP5C68gkVjecg5l4aN4dAND1&caseno=Cr.A(DB)/98/2003&cCode=1&cino=JHHC010208862003&state_code=7&appFlag=)

Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.