An Indian army officer has been given relief in the case of murder of a child. In a ridiculous verdict, the Supreme Court of India announced that the “culpable homicide” was not tantamount to murder.

The child was shot dead for plucking fruits from defence enclave and the army officer was convicted by the trial court and the decision was upheld by the Madras High Court, local Indian media reported.

Later, Lieutenant Colonal (retd) Kandaswamy Ramaraj had filed an appeal with the top court.

“We are of the opinion that the appellant committed the offence in question whilst he was deprived of the power of self-control upon sudden provocation by the children,” the Indian SC said in its verdict, clearly siding the retired army man.

Kandaswamy Ramaraj has been sentenced to imprisonment for 10 years and fined 0.2 million Indian rupees, which would be given to heirs of the victim.

It is a usual thing for boys of the area adjacent to the defence enclave to enter the prohibited area to get almonds and other fruits from trees.

Also Read: DG ISPR mocks Indian High Commission for not supporting its army chief

It has also been learnt that the officer is short-tempered and used to chase the boys who would enter stealthily into the enclave. The boys had once reportedly damaged his car’s windshield.

On Oct 22, spokesperson of the Pakistani armed forces, Director General Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Asif Ghafoor had mocked the Indian High Commission for not standing with its army chief’s false claim.

“What good Indian High Commission is which can’t stand with its Army Chief? Indian High Commission staff didn’t have the moral courage to accompany fellow diplomats in Pakistan to LOC. However, a group of foreign diplomats & media is on the way to LOC to see the truth on ground,” Asif Ghafoor had said in a tweet.