Oct. 5
INDIA:
Murderer-cum-serial killer finally reconciles to the noose
On October 3, the Supreme Court dismissed a petition against the death penalty
handed down to Umesh Reddy, a former constable. That name still sends shivers
down the spines of those who know about his case. A 40-year-old man, Umesh is
believed to have raped and murdered at least 10 women, in a spree that is
believed to have spanned the country. He now sits on death row in Hindalga jail
in Belagavi.
On hearing the apex court's decision, sources inside the prison say that Umesh
has almost a tranquil air of resignation about him now; as though he has
finally accepted the inevitability of the hangman's noose.
Umesh carefully chose his targets -- lonely women. After identifying his
victim, he attacked them in their own homes between 11am and 3pm (when it was
likely they'd be alone). Like most serial killers, Umesh always took a souvenir
from his victim ... in his case it was their undergarments. In spite of being
arrested on a number of occasions, he always managed to escape his custodians.
He was finally thrown into prison after he was arrested on May 17, 2002, in
Yeshwantpur.
Portrait of a killer behind bars "Reddy has been kept in a separate
high-security cell and has not been given a work detail. He is not allowed to
leave his cell. He wakes up at 5.45am every day, does his yoga, and reads two
newspapers and law books. His meals are given to him in his cell. He has asked
to be shifted to another jail, but we have denied his request. On Monday, after
he found out about the apex court's decision, he just went silent. He continued
with his yoga and then started studying books like the IPC, CrPC and also
evidence act books ... all related to his cases. I think he was looking for any
other chance to appeal," a jail official said.
"I think there is a slight chance if he appeals to a constitution bench.
Otherwise, he has to be hanged. Once the date is fixed, we will decide who will
hang him," the official added.
A gruesome legacy
The High Court of Karnataka confirmed the death sentence handed down to Umesh
by a local court in a case pertaining to the rape and murder of 37-year-old
housewife, Jayashree Maradi Subbaiah, in Peenya on February 28, 1998. The
Supreme Court upheld the HC???s decision. In all, Reddy faced 21 cases. He was
convicted in 9 and acquitted in 11, while one case is still pending in Hiriyur.
Umesh escaped 4 times from judicial and police custody. On the run, he raped
and murdered women across the state and it is believed, even in other parts of
the country. In 1998 when the police apprehended him in Yeshwantpur, they
recovered a bagful of women's garments: 10 bras, 18 panties, 6 saris, 2
nightgowns, 8 trousers and 4 blouses.
Reddy escaped the 1st time when he was being shifted from Bellary jail, in
March 1997. He was later arrested on July 7, 1997, while attempting to steal
women's undergarments, but he escaped within 24 hours. He was picked up by the
Peenya police on February 28, 1998, while trying to escape after killing
Jayashree. He escaped again while being brought to court. Reddy was finally
arrested on May 17, 2002 by Yeshwantpur police, after he was spotted in a
salon.
Umesh Reddy alias Rajulu, alias, Ramesh alias Venkatesh, was born BV Umesh in
Basappamalige, Hiriyur taluk, Chitradurga district. After completing his
pre-university course in 1995, Reddy joined the District Armed Reserve police
(DAR) in Chitradurga in 1996.
In November 1996 Reddy attempted to rape a girl in KEB Colony, Chitradurga. The
girl later identified him, by chance, at a police parade, after which a case
was registered against him. He was later dismissed from service. That same
month, he allegedly raped and murdered Roopa, also from KEB Colony in
Chitradurga.
Police believe that several of his crimes will never see the light as victims
didn???t approach the police fearing social stigma.
(source: Bangalore Mirror)
***************
Hoshiarpur boy's killers try last resort to save neck
Their death warrants are out. Vikram Walia and Jasvir Singh, who kidnapped and
murdered a Hoshiarpur boy, Abhi Verma (16), in 2005, have moved the Supreme
Court yet another time for a stay on their execution.
A Hoshiarpur court has directed the Patiala jail authorities to hang them on
October 25 . The President has denied them mercy. Supreme Court lawyer Balwant
Singh Billowria, who filed the latest review petition, will appear before the
Chief Justice of India to request for an urgent hearing on Wednesday morning.
He has cited a constitutional-bench judgment in case of 2000 Red Fort bombing
convict Mohammad Arif "that deathrow convicts shall seek opencourt hearings of
their review petitions, irrespective of the fact that their curative petition
has already been dismissed".
In 2006, the Hoshiarpur district court had awarded death penalty to Jasvir's
wife, Sonia, too, and in 2008, the Punjab and Haryana high court had upheld it.
In 2010, Supreme Court commuted only Sonia's sentence to life imprisonment.
Walia and Jasvir filed a mercy petition, which the President rejected.
(source: Hindustan Times)
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