Headnote
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The appeals and death reference arose from the conviction and sentence awarded by the Additional Sessions Judge-IVth, Dumka in Sessions Trial Nos. 232/2013, 31/2014, 146/2014 and 16/2015, wherein the respondents-accused were convicted for offences including murder, dacoity with murder, attempt to murder, rioting, and unlawful use of arms and sentenced to death under Sections 302/149 and 302/120B/109 IPC, among other sentences, arising out of a Maoist ambush on a police party on 02.07.2013 near Kathikund, Dumka, resulting in the death of the Superintendent of Police, Pakur, and three police constables.
The prosecution alleged that a group of 30-35 Maoist extremists ambushed two police vehicles — a Bolero and a Scorpio — near a culvert between Jamni and Amtalla, indiscriminately firing upon the occupants, killing the Superintendent of Police Amarjit Balihar and three constables, injuring several others, and looting arms and ammunition including INSAS rifles and AK-47 rifles. A surviving constable, Bablu Murmu, identified the accused persons including those addressed as 'Pravil Da' and 'Tala Da' as members of the extremist group who directed the ambush and subsequent looting of weapons.
The Jharkhand High Court, sitting as a Division Bench, heard the Death Reference filed by the State as well as the criminal appeals preferred by the convicted accused against their conviction and sentence. The matter was reserved for judgment after hearing arguments from both sides, including Special Public Prosecutors for the State and defence counsel for the respective appellants.
Catchwords:
Death Reference
Maoist ambush
murder of police officers
dacoity with murder
criminal conspiracy
unlawful assembly
arms looting
sentence of death
confirmation of death sentence
Naxal extremism
Jharkhand
IPC Section 302
IPC Section 396
Arms Act Section 27
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Full Judgment Text
```json
{
"title": "The State Of Jharkhand vs Sukhlal @ Prabir Murmu @ Pravir Da @ Pravil Da @ Harendra Da @ Sanat Da @ Marang Da @ Amrit & Anr.",
"case_number": "Death Ref. No. 04 of 2018 with Criminal Appeal (DB) No. 1363 of 2018 and Criminal Appeal (DB) No. 1378 of 2018",
"side": "criminal",
"date_of_judgment": "2025-07-17",
"bench": "Rongon Mukhopadhyay J., Sanjay Prasad J.",
"reportable": false,
"parties_petitioner": "The State of Jharkhand",
"parties_respondent": "Sukhlal @ Prabir Murmu @ Pravir Da @ Pravil Da @ Harendra Da @ Sanat Da @ Marang Da @ Amrit and Sanatan Baski
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