Kerala: Wanted capital punishment for Sooraj Kumar, says Uthra’s mom

KOLLAM: Uthra’s mother said she wants capital punishment for Sooraj Kumar who was awarded a double life sentence for murdering her daughter using a snake to bite her while she was asleep.



Manimeghala, who made the comments Wednesday after hearing the verdict of the additional sessions court in Kollam, said the life of her daughter, who was the light in her life, was snuffed out in the most barbaric manner by the accused.

She said for the past one year she was hoping that the judgement will provide solace to her in her search for justice but that she has been disappointed. Such lapses on the part of the judicial system was feeding a culture of impunity creating criminals, she said, struggling to hold back her tears.

Talking to media persons who thronged her house at Anchal, Manimeghala demanded justice for her daughter and said that the family would move the high court seeking a review of the trial court’s decision not to award capital punishment to Sooraj.

“It is up to the society to answer whether the judgement is satisfactory. We wanted maximum punishment for the accused,” she said.

Vishu, Uthra’s brother also expressed disappointment over the verdict which said that the crime committed with "unparalleled wickedness" but spared death sentence. He said the family would consider approaching the high court. Special prosecutor G Mohan Raj said it is up to the government to decide on approaching the high court with an appeal.

“As the court has found the accused guilty of all the four charges registered against him and awarded the maximum punishment in three of the four crimes, I consider the verdict as satisfactory,” he said. Rural SP Harisankar, who led the investigation, too shared the same opinion. “Sentencing is in the realm of the judiciary. Police cannot comment on it,” he said.

Ashokan A, DSP, crime branch, who was part of the investigation team, said he was satisfied that the accused got maximum punishment in three out of the four cases slapped on him, including a double life term. “The accused will have to serve 17 years in jail before the commencement of the double life term. That means, he will have to serve a major portion of his life in the jail if the government does not remit his sentence,” he said.