JAMMU: A Jammu court has imposed two life sentences and fines of Rs 2 lakh on Mohammed Sharief, a terrorist who gunned down three members of a family, including a six-month-old infant, in Ramban district’s Gool area over 21 years ago.In his order on Wednesday, principal sessions judge Ramban Ajay Kumar Gupta rejected defence arguments that the attack had taken place more than two decades ago when Sharief was young, his long incarceration and possibility of rehabilitation.Besides the life sentences, the court imposed two separate terms of 10 years on Sharief under various sections pertaining to murder and arms act offences. “All sentences shall run concurrently, while the period already spent in custody shall be set off in accordance with law,” the judge said.The court ordered that the fines be paid to those injured in the July 2005 terror attack and directed J&K State Legal Services Authority to provide compensation to heirs of the deceased and the survivors.Judge Gupta rejected defence arguments about the testimony of two injured eyewitnesses, saying they were reliable and corroborated by medical and other evidence. Defective investigations or delay in recording statements could not automatically result in acquittal when credible evidence otherwise established the accused’s guilt beyond reasonable doubt, the judge said.

Public prosecutor Wajid Ahmed pressed for maximum punishment under law, contending that the murder of three innocent family members, including the baby, and the use of an AK-47 rifle warranted a stringent sentence.The court considered aggravating and mitigating circumstances and held that although the crime was extremely grave, the case did not warrant the death penalty under the rarest of rare principle.