Nikita murder: Court gives lifer to stalkers

GURUGRAM: A fast-track court in Faridabad on Friday sentenced two men to life imprisonment and fined them ₹20,000 in the Nikita Tomar murder case that shocked the national capital region in October last year. Tauseef, who had been stalking the 21-year-old Tomar and shot her at point blank range, and his associate Rehaan were held guilty of murder, kidnapping, conspiracy, under sections of the Arms Act by additional sessions judge Sartaj Baswana on Wednesday.

Under the Arms Act, the men were given four years of imprisonment that will run concurrent

Pwith the life sentence, said Adal Singh Rawat, counsel for the victim’s family. “We will file a petition in the high court seeking death penalty for the brutal murder of Nikita... We will approach the high court for justice,” said

Rawat. Tomar was shot dead on October 26 outside her college in Ballabhgarh, Faridabad, by Tauseef, when he failed to abduct her along with his accomplice Rehaan, said police. The crime brought women’s safety in sharp focus and led to protests across Haryana.

The father of the victim, Moolraj Tomar, expressed disappointment over the quantum of punishment. “We will approach the higher courts and seek death penalty for the convicts. We respect the court but will challenge the verdict,” he said.

The family of the victim and its lawyers acknowledged that the speedy investigation conducted by Faridabad police and regular hearings in the fast-track court helped secure the conviction of the two accused. Sanjiv Singh Rao, senior counsel, said footage recovered from the crime scene and from a toll plaza nearby played a crucial role in identifying the accused.

Faridabad police on Friday preferred not to comment on the matter. However, the Faridabad police did post a tweet saying, “Faridabad police #avengers end game for the killers of #NikitaTomar. Handed down life imprisonment for the cowardly act”.

The defence counsel, however, maintained that this case did not come under the purview of capital punishment as it was not in the “rarest of the rare” category.

We will file a petition in the HC seeking death penalty for the brutal murder... ADAL SINGH RAWAT,