Thirteen years after the Batla House encounter, a Delhi Court on Monday sentenced Ariz Khan, who was convicted of the murder of inspector Mohan Chand Sharma and other offences, to death.

Additional Sessions Judge Sandeep Yadav called it a ‘rarest of rare case’ while awarding the death penalty. He said Ariz be hanged by neck till death.

The court also imposed a total fine of Rs 11 lakh on Ariz in the case.

It said Rs 10 lakh should be immediately released to the family members of Sharma.

“I feel the fine of Rs 10 lakh is insufficient. Hence, I am referring the matter to Delhi Legal Services Authority for award of additional compensation,” the judge further said.

The prosecution had sought death penalty for Khan in the case, while the counsel for the convict sought leniency on the ground of his young age.

On 8 March, the court had convicted Khan in the case, noting that he murdered encounter specialist and inspector Mohan Chand Sharma.

The Additional Sessions Judge had said that Khan, along with his associates, intentionally and voluntarily caused the murder of Sharma by the use of gun shot.

Ariz Khan was convicted under Sections 186 (obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions), 333 (voluntarily causes grievous hurt), 353 (Assault or criminal force to deter public servant) and 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code.

He has also been held guilty under Sections 307 (attempt to murder), 174(a) (non-appearance in response to a proclamation) and 34 (criminal intention) of the IPC and Section 27 (using any prohibited weapons) of the Arms Act.

On 19 September in 2008, the Special Cell of Delhi Police had carried out an encounter at the Batla House in Jamia Nagar, in which two suspected Indian Mujahideen terrorists and inspector Sharma were killed. Ariz Khan had fled from the spot and was declared a proclaimed offender. He was arrested on 14 February, 2018.

Ariz Khan is allegedly associated with the terror outfit Indian Mujahideen. The police claimed that he was present at the Batla House during the encounter and had managed to give the police a slip.

In July 2013, a trial court had sentenced Indian Mujahideen terrorist Shahzad Ahmed to life imprisonment in connection with the case.

~With inputs from Agencies~