Allahabad High Court Overturns Capital Punishment in Rampur CRPF Camp Attack Case

The Allahabad High Court reversed a trial court's decision that sentenced four individuals to death and one to life imprisonment for the 2007 terrorist attack on a CRPF camp in Rampur, citing investigation defects. The accused were acquitted of murder charges but found guilty under the Arms Act.

In a significant turn of events, the Allahabad High Court overturned a trial court's decision that had previously sentenced four individuals to death and one to life imprisonment in connection with the 2007 terrorist attack on a CRPF camp in Rampur. Eight CRPF personnel had died in the attack, and five sustained injuries.

The bench, comprising Justices Sidharth Verma and Ram Manohar Narain Mishra, highlighted serious flaws in the investigation, which led to the acquittal of the accused on murder and other serious charges, stating that the prosecution 'miserably failed to prove the case against the accused beyond reasonable doubt.'

However, the court found the five accused guilty under Section 25 (1-A) of the Arms Act, sentencing them to ten years of rigorous imprisonment and imposing a fine of Rs one lakh each. The case's complexities revealed lapses in the identification process and raised questions about the investigation's integrity.

(With inputs from agencies.)