LUCKNOW: A fast-track court in Uttar Pradesh’s Mahoba district has sentenced a man to death for murdering his wife and two young daughters by crushing their heads with a traditional grinding stone, nearly three years after the brutal crime shocked the region.
The verdict was delivered on Wednesday by the court of Additional District and Sessions Judge (Fast-Track Court) Aparna Tripathi, who found Devendra Vishwakarma guilty of the triple murder. The court also imposed a fine of ₹50,000 on the convict.
The conviction was secured under the Uttar Pradesh Police’s “Operation Conviction” initiative, which aims to ensure speedy trials and justice in serious criminal cases.
Triple Murder in 2023
According to police, the crime occurred on July 17, 2023, when Devendra Vishwakarma, 31, allegedly killed his wife Ram Kumari (28) and their two daughters, Ayushi (9) and Sonakshi (6).
Mahoba Superintendent of Police Shashank Singh said the accused used a sil-batta (traditional grinding stone) to crush the victims’ heads, causing their deaths.
The victims were originally from Nauranga village in neighbouring Hamirpur district.
Investigation and Trial
Following the murders, the victims’ father lodged a complaint at Kotwali Nagar police station in Mahoba. Police registered a case under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code and launched an investigation.
The probe was led by Inspector Upendra Pratap Singh, who collected evidence and completed the investigation. A chargesheet was filed before the court on August 24, 2023.
Police officials said the case received special attention under Operation Conviction, a state-wide initiative launched by Rajeev Krishna to expedite prosecution in heinous crimes.
The district monitoring cell and prosecution team closely tracked the proceedings to ensure timely disposal of the case.
Death Penalty Awarded
After the crime, the accused was lodged in judicial custody at a jail in Jhansi district. He was later produced before the Mahoba court through the prescribed legal process for hearings and the final judgment.
The prosecution was conducted by District Government Counsel Dinesh Kumar Singh, who argued the case on behalf of the state.
With the conviction and death sentence, the court brought closure to one of the most disturbing murder cases reported in the Bundelkhand region in recent years.
