Nagpur: In a deeply emotional moment, the victim of a heinous crime made a poignant appeal to Advocate Rashmi Khaparde, Additional Public Prosecutor and Assistant Government Pleader, declaring, “Ab main jeena chahti hoon” (Now, I want to live) after Additional Sessions Judge G P Deshmukh handed down double life imprisonment to accused Mamlesh Kanhaiyalal Chakravarti who raped and attempted to kill her at Piraya Gokul mines of the Western Coalfields Limited (W CL) in Taluka Umrer six years ago.
Chakravarti was found guilty of raping and attempting to murder the victim at the Piraya Gokul mines of the Western Coalfields Limited (WCL) in Taluka Umrer six years ago. The crime had left indelible scars on the victim, who has been undergoing medical treatment ever since.
The courtroom was visibly moved by the victim’s appeal, which highlighted the severe brutality of the crime, her relentless suffering, and the profound sense of justice she experienced following the judgement. The verdict, delivered on Wednesday, provided a glimmer of hope in the victim’s life, signifying a step towards justice, even though it could not completely erase the trauma she endured.
While this judgement may not mark the end of her struggles, it signifies a critical milestone in her quest for justice and healing. The victim’s statement, “Ab main jeena chahti hoon,” echoes a powerful desire to reclaim her life and a renewed determination to move forward despite the harrowing ordeal she faced.
As the judgement was to be pronounced in the case on Wednesday, the 30-year old’s major surgery in a Durg (Chhattisgarh) hospital was postponed by doctors to let her be a part of the court proceedings. Though still battling for life, the rape and attempt-to-murder victim, with tears rolling down her cheeks, thanked Judge Deshmukh with folded hands via video conferencing from the hospital after the rapist awarded double lifer with a total fine of Rs 10,000 to the culprit — truck cleaner Chakravarti (28), a resident of Jaisingh Nagar, Devas, Indore, Madhya Pradesh, — for the heinous act he committed.
The victim, who was a 24- year-old WCL employee when the sensational crime took place between 1.30 pm and 2 pm on August 14, 2018, was posted at the Weigh Bridge No 4 at Gokul Mines. Chakravarti and one of his accomplices Mahesh Mayee had come to the mines to load coal in their truck. The culprit Chakravarti and driver Mayee noticed her when she went to a nearby make-shift toilet made of bamboo. Chakravarti followed her, caught hold of her in the toilet and raped her.
When she started shouting, he brutally attacked her with stones injuring her seriously. She fell unconscious as she sustained serious facial and head injuries. One of her eyes was badly damaged in the attack. Other WCL workers heard her screams and rushed to the spot. Before they could reach, the culprit managed to escape. One of the employees somehow managed to catch Chakravarti during the manhunt for them. The survivor was rushed to Orange City Hospital & Research Institute, Nagpur. Umrer Police took accused Chakravarti and Mayee into custody and registered a case under Sections 376, 376(d), 307 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) against them.
Cops seized the clothes worn by the accused persons and procured the footage of the CCTV cameras. The WCL management was ‘exposed’ by the leaders of the coal workers’ union for its failure to provide proper security to women workers. Sub-Divisional Police Officer (Umrer Division) Pournima S Tawre investigated the case. As no evidence was found against Mayee, chargesheet was filed only against the prime accused Chakravarti.
During the trial, the court examined 18 prosecution witnesses. As the charges were substantiated against Chakravarti, the court sentenced him to suffer imprisonment (imprisonment for the remainder of his natural life) for the offence under Sections 376(1),376(2)(j)(I) and (m) of the IPC with a fine of Rs 5000. Similarly, the court awarded life imprisonment to him for offence under Sections 307 of the IPC with a fine of Rs 5000. Both the sentences would run concurrently.
The court stated that the ‘muddemal,’ including hard disc and DVR, be returned to the WCL and directed them to preserve it. The court directed that the copy of the judgement be forwarded to the District Legal Service Authority for taking necessary steps for providing adequate compensation to the victim.
As the victim was operated with 12 surgeries and the doctors advised her such surgeries in future, the court directed that the judgement be forwarded to the Chairman or Chief Manager of WCL Headquarters recommending to provide compensation and to bear all medical expenses and also to consider the absence of the victim from her duty till she attains fitness.
