Bahraich, Aug 19 A man has been sentenced to life imprisonment for murdering his 26-year-old sister-in-law in 2020, when he was just 16 years and two months old, with the court directing that the sentence be governed by provisions of the Juvenile Justice Act.
The special court in Bahraich convicted the accused of murder, criminal conspiracy and causing disappearance of evidence in the 2020 killing of Hasreen, whose headless body was found near a canal in the district.
Special Public Prosecutor Sant Pratap Singh said the court of Juvenile Court/Additional Sessions Judge Arvind Kumar Gautam convicted the accused under IPC sections 302/34 (murder), 120B (criminal conspiracy) and 201/34 (causing disappearance of evidence).
He was sentenced to life imprisonment and fined Rs 1.20 lakh.
The court, however, directed that the sentence be executed in accordance with the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, and the rules applicable to a child in conflict with law.
The Act places specific restrictions on punishments that can be imposed on children, including a bar on life imprisonment without the possibility of release.
The case dates back to March 9, 2020, when the headless body of Hasreen, a resident of Itkauri village under Risia police station, was found near a canal in Adgodwa village under Rupaidiha police station. Her head was recovered several days later.
According to the prosecution, Hasreen had been staying at her parental home following a dispute with her husband and in-laws. Her husband Riyaz Ali was in Saudi Arabia and allegedly wanted a divorce and remarriage, while Hasreen was unwilling to agree to a divorce.
Police alleged that Riyaz conspired with his father Sadiq Ali, mother Saira, his 16-year-old brother and cousin Salman alias Nanhe to eliminate Hasreen.
The teenage accused was allegedly brought from Mumbai to Bahraich and persuaded Hasreen to accompany him towards her in-laws' home. Sadiq and Salman allegedly joined them on the way.
Near Adgodwa, Hasreen was allegedly killed by slitting her throat with a knife. Her head was allegedly put in a polythene bag and thrown into the Saryu canal, while her body was left near the canal in an attempt to conceal her identity, police said.
Police subsequently arrested Riyaz, the juvenile accused, Sadiq, Saira and Salman and filed charges against them.
The four adult accused have already been convicted. On September 26, 2025, Sadiq and Salman were sentenced to life imprisonment for murder, while Riyaz and Saira were sentenced to 10 years in prison each for criminal conspiracy.
The case of the accused who was 16 years and two months old at the time of the offence was dealt with separately after the Additional Sessions Court, on February 13, 2026, held that he was a child in conflict with law on the date of the offence and referred his case to the Juvenile Justice Board.
The Juvenile Justice Board conducted a preliminary assessment in view of the alleged heinous nature of the offence and referred the case to the Children's Court on May 13, 2026, for trial.
The Children's Court subsequently convicted the accused of murder, criminal conspiracy and causing disappearance of evidence and sentenced him to life imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 1.20 lakh.
The court directed that the sentence be executed in accordance with the Juvenile Justice Act and the rules applicable to a child in conflict with law.
