HW Community
Yug Murder Case Conviction: Is this crime rare enough to invite death penalty?
Shimla: The Supreme Court of India, in a decision in Machhi Singh vs State of Punjab case in 1983, had coined the term “rarest of the rare.”
As per Justice MP Thakkar, rarest of the rare case means,
When the collective conscience of the community is so shocked that it will expect the holders of the judicial power center to inflict death penalty irrespective of their personal opinion as regards desirability or otherwise of retaining the death penalty.
Further, the deciding factors included the manner of commission of murder.
When the murder is committed in an extremely brutal, grotesque, diabolical. revolting, or dastardly manner so as to arouse the intense and extreme indignation of the community,
the Apex court had stated.
There are several other guidelines including consideration of aggravating and mitigating factors. However, there has been a long contradiction between the advocates of capital punishment and human rights activists all over the world.
One of the arguments against the death penalty states that the courts can not give birth to a human hence it doesn’t have the right to take life. The debate also considers the deterrent effect of awarding death penalty on offenders in making. Does it deter people from committing crimes?
In India, this debate holds more value as the rarest of rare cases are no more rare. The crime rate, especially crime against women is only rising. In 2012, the gangrape and brutal murder of Nirbhaya in the national capital had sounded the alarm. The accused were given death sentence but the question is whether it deterred criminals or not.
In Himachal, the debate was again sparked on August 6, 2018, as the district and session judge, Virender Singh found all three accused guilty of abducting and murdering Yug Gupta, a 4-years-old boy, in June 2014. However, the court did not announce the sentence, which is likely to be decided on August 13 – the next date scheduled for the sentencing hearing.
These three convicts include Tejinder Singh (29), Chander Sharma (26), and Vikrant Bakshi (22).
The parents of the murdered boy have been grieving since his abduction on June 14, 2014, from their home in Ram Bazaar, Shimla. Their pain was aggravated by the failure of Shimla Police in solving the case after an investigation of several months. The case was then handed over to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of Himachal Pradesh.
Their grief knew no bounds when the CID team recovered parts of Yug’s skeletal from a water tank on August 22, 2016, after a long investigation.
Related Story: Skeleton of missing Shimla kid recovered after 2 years from MC water tank near Bharari
It turned out that said three youth, with an intention to extract a ransom from his family, had abducted Yug. The mastermind Chander was a neighbour of the victim’s family.
Does the crime attract capital punishment?
As per the Supreme Court’s directions in the 1983 Machhi Singh case,
The capital punishment can be imparted in cases
When the victim of murder is an innocent child who could not have or has not provided even an excuse, much less a provocation, for murder.
This criterion also included women or a person rendered helpless by old age or infirmity.
The crime committed in the case of Yug Gupta involve a 4-years-old child who, as per the investigation, was made to live in inhuman conditions after the abduction. The convicts had rented an apartment located at an isolated location near Ram Chandra Chowk. For a week, the child was kept naked in a bed-box, starved, and was made to consume alcohol forcefully to keep him in a sedated state and prevent him from making any noise.
Related Story: Yug Murder Case: Possible torture to death, drowned alive, suggests initial investigation, protest erupts in Shimla
After a week of abduction on June 14, the convicts tied him to a stone with a rope and threw him into a Shimla Municipal Corporation’s water supply tank in Kelston on June 21. Yug was alive when he was thrown into the tank.
The convicts had not asked for ransom until June 27 when the parents received a letter demanding a ransom of Rs. 3.6 crores. However, they had already murdered Yug a week ago.
The recovery of the skeletal remains had sent waves of shock across the state, which was followed by public protests demanding a death penalty for the three convicts. The Bar Association had also decided to not to take up the case of any of the accused. The case was first-of-its-kind in Himachal Pradesh – a considerably peaceful place as compared to rest of the States.
Everyone found it inconceivable to give an innocent child such horrible death. The convicts were even thrashed by an enraged mob while they were being taken to the court.
The CID had filed a charge-sheet against the accused on October 25, 2016.
The charge-sheet also included ten reports attached with it. Two of the reports were that of DNA test conducted to match remains of Yug parents and another report prooving that Yug was alive when the convicts dumped him in the Kelston tank.
About 114 persons are mentioned as the witnesses and statements of over 100 persons have been recorded. All the three accused were booked under sections 302, 201, 342, 364 A and 120 B of the IPC.
The case had indeed shocked the community and it did involve a helpless, innocent child, but it is to be seen whether it qualifies as a rarest of the rare case or not.
In brief, the rarest of the rare crime should consider:
- Manner of commission of murder
- Motive for commission of murder
- Anti-social or socially abhorrent nature of the crime
- Magnitude of crime
- Personality of victim of murder
Further, in September 2013, a bench of justices S J Mukhopadhaya and Kurian Joseph, while turning a sentence of the death penalty to a man accused of multiple murders into life imprisonment, had noted that the life imprisonment is the rule and death penalty an exception and courts should also consider socio-economic before pronouncing sentence.
Poverty, socio-economic, psychic compulsions, undeserved adversities in life are some of the mitigating factors which are also required to be considered, in addition to criteria laid down in its two landmark verdicts on the death penalty,
the bench had stated adding
We may note that the rule is life imprisonment for murder, and death is the exception for which special reasons are to be stated.
There seems to be no socio-economic compulsion in the case of the convicts in the Yug murder case that had compelled them to commit this crime. The accused are also mentally sound. However, for the court, it would not be that easy to pronounce a death sentence.
If a death penalty is awarded then, in accordance with the Section 354(3) of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), the judge would have to cite special reasons for it.
The family of the Yug has expressed full faith in the judiciary and expects that the court would pronounce nothing less than a death penalty for the brutal murder of Yug.
The recovery of the remains of Yug had also posed serious questions over the cleaning and security of the water supply tanks of the SMC as well as the Irrigation & Public Health Department. The case highlighted that these agencies were not taking any measures to secure these tanks as they were neither locked or monitored in any other way.
The SMC supplied water to the public from this tank for two years until the arrest of the convicts who led the CID team to the spot. The convicts had thrown Yug into the tank in 2014 and it remained inside it up to August 2016, which clearly exposed the lackadaisical approach of government departments towards the quality of drinking water supplied to the public.
The police had also registered an FIR at Sadar Police Station under provisions of Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act 1974 on the basis of the CID’s report. The SMC was charged with a negligent act that could have led to spread of an epidemic or other infections lethal to human life.
However, the then Mayor of Shimla, Sanjay Chauhan, had questioned CID’s investigations and had claimed that all remains of Yug’s skeleton were recovered from surroundings of the Keleston-based water tank, not from inside. He had alleged Congress and BJP of playing cheap politics over the death of an innocent child.
Shimla—A quiet but worrying crisis is unfolding in Himachal Pradesh. Across several districts, traders, hoteliers, and restaurant owners are reporting a sharp shortage of commercial LPG cylinders, leaving many establishments with barely a few days’ supply. In a state where tourism drives the local economy, disruptions in cooking fuel supply can quickly escalate into a wider economic concern.
Local reports indicate the shortage is already affecting hospitality businesses. Traders in Shimla have warned that commercial gas stocks may last only a couple of days if fresh deliveries do not arrive soon, according to a report by Amar Ujala. Restaurant owners have echoed similar concerns in Solan and nearby tourist towns, where businesses fear that kitchens may soon struggle to operate without regular supplies, as reported by Dainik Jagran.
At first glance, the shortage appears to be a regional supply bottleneck. In reality, the problem is tied to wider disruptions in global energy markets triggered by the ongoing tensions in West Asia.
Tourism economy vulnerable to fuel disruption
Himachal Pradesh’s tourism sector relies heavily on thousands of small and medium establishments—restaurants, cafés, dhabas, and hotels. Unlike large metropolitan areas where piped natural gas networks are expanding, most commercial kitchens in the hill state still depend almost entirely on LPG cylinders.
This dependence makes the sector particularly vulnerable. Even short supply disruptions can force restaurants to reduce operations, limit menus, or temporarily shut down.
Industry bodies across India have already sounded the alarm. Restaurant operators have warned that continued supply disruptions could lead to closures across the sector. For a tourism-driven state like Himachal Pradesh, such disruptions can ripple through the wider economy.
The global trigger: instability in West Asia
The roots of the crisis lie thousands of kilometers away. The conflict involving the United States and Iran has begun affecting energy markets and shipping routes in the Gulf region.
A key concern is the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important energy corridors through which a large share of global oil and LPG shipments pass. India’s dependence on this route is substantial. Energy analysts estimate that a majority of India’s LPG imports originate from Gulf countries and move through this narrow maritime passage, as noted in a report by The New Indian Express.
Any instability in the region immediately affects supply chains. Shipping risks rise, insurance premiums increase, and cargo movement slows. These pressures eventually filter down to domestic markets.
Recent reports have also linked rising LPG prices and supply concerns to the Middle East crisis, with consumers expressing worry about the impact of the conflict on cooking gas costs, according to ANI News.
Domestic prioritisation, commercial shortage
When supplies tighten, governments typically prioritise household consumption. Domestic LPG cylinders are considered essential for daily cooking, and maintaining their availability becomes a policy priority.
However, this often leaves commercial users facing reduced allocations. Restaurants and hotels depend almost entirely on commercial cylinders, which are distributed through a separate supply channel.
In response to the emerging supply concerns, the government has reportedly taken steps to ensure adequate domestic availability of LPG, including directing refiners to increase production and manage distribution more closely, as reported by The Economic Times.
While such measures protect households, they can intensify shortages for commercial establishments.
Geography amplifies the problem
Himachal Pradesh faces additional logistical challenges. LPG cylinders used in the state are largely transported from bottling plants located outside its borders. Moving these supplies across mountainous terrain involves long supply chains and limited transport routes.
When upstream deliveries slow down—whether at ports, refineries, or bottling plants—the impact reaches hill towns more quickly and more sharply.
At the same time, alternatives remain limited. Large-scale piped gas networks are rare in the state, and many commercial kitchens lack the electrical capacity required for high-energy cooking equipment.
A warning for energy resilience
The emerging LPG shortage in Himachal Pradesh is more than a temporary supply issue. It highlights a deeper vulnerability in India’s energy system—heavy dependence on imported fuel and fragile supply chains exposed to geopolitical shocks.
For a café owner in Shimla or a hotel operator in Manali, the geopolitics of West Asia may seem distant. Yet the current situation demonstrates how closely global energy flows are tied to local economies.
A disruption in the Persian Gulf can slow tanker shipments, delay fuel supplies at Indian ports, disrupt distribution networks—and ultimately affect the availability of cooking gas in a Himalayan kitchen.
As the situation evolves, the hope in Himachal Pradesh is that supply lines stabilise quickly. But the episode offers a clear lesson: in an interconnected world, even the quiet kitchens of the mountains are not insulated from global conflict.
Mandi|July 11, 2025 — In the lap of the Himalayas, nestled among deodar forests and flowing streams, the district of Mandi has long stood as a symbol of Himachal’s tranquil beauty. But in the monsoon of 2025, that tranquillity was shattered — not by nature alone, but by a deadly combination of climate extremes, administrative apathy, and long-ignored warnings.
This year’s monsoon came not as a nurturing rain, but as a devastating deluge. What began in late June as a forecasted spell of heavy rainfall turned into one of the deadliest natural disasters in recent memory for Himachal Pradesh. And no place bore the brunt quite like Mandi.
The Collapse of Safety
Between June 20 and July 10, the state witnessed 91 rain-related deaths, out of which 17 occurred in Mandi district alone, making it the hardest-hit region according to the State Disaster Management Authority. More than 750 homes were completely destroyed, and another 880 partially damaged, while 10 bridges, multiple roads, and entire stretches of power and water infrastructure were washed away. In just 21 days, the estimated damage statewide crossed ₹750 crore.
The primary culprits? Landslides, cloudbursts, and flash floods — many of which occurred in the dead of night, catching villagers off guard.
In Siyathi village, 67 lives were saved not by sirens or warning systems, but by a dog’s bark. A resident, Narendra, told media:
“It was midnight. We were sleeping. Suddenly the dog began barking non-stop. We ran out. Within minutes, the entire hillside collapsed and our homes were buried.”
The dog, unnamed but hailed as a hero, became a symbol of what worked in a place where institutional response did not.
A Night of Heroes in Deji Village
In nearby Deji, two college students — Ronid Pundir and Sahil Thakur — from Thunag Horticulture College became real-life saviours. When a sudden cloudburst triggered a flash flood in the dead of night, the duo ran from house to house, waking families and helping them escape. Their actions helped evacuate over 150 people.
“We didn’t think twice. We just saw the water rising and started pulling people out,” Ronid told the media.
Despite such moments of courage, the tragedy left deep scars. In many parts of Seraj, Karsog, and Sundernagar subdivisions, residents reported that local authorities failed to respond in time. Emergency shelters were ill-equipped. In remote hamlets, stranded families waited hours, sometimes days, for rescue.
A Failure of Planning, Not Just Weather
Himachal’s vulnerability to extreme weather is well known. Yet critics argue that poor land use planning, unregulated construction near rivers, and unsafe road-cutting practices have greatly magnified the disaster’s impact.
Geologists and environmentalists have warned for years that road expansion projects and large-scale deforestation in hill regions have weakened slope stability. In many places, construction has occurred dangerously close to water channels, despite repeated advisories.
This time, the warnings played out in real-time — with mud, stone, and entire homes tumbling into ravines.
Government Response: Promises and Limitations
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu visited the worst-affected villages, including Baga, Syanj, and Panglyur, personally distributing relief materials and speaking with the victims.
“No family should feel alone. The state stands with you,” he said during a relief camp visit.
The state government announced ₹7 lakh in compensation per fully destroyed house, and temporary shelters for displaced families. In contrast, the central government’s compensation — capped at ₹1.3 lakh — has drawn criticism from state ministers and the public alike.
Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi remarked:
“What we’re getting from the Centre is insufficient. Our people are suffering. We need stronger, faster support.”
A Glimpse into the Future
Perhaps the most chilling aspect of this disaster is that it may be only the beginning. Scientists warn that climate change is accelerating the frequency and intensity of such events in the Himalayas. Increased temperatures are destabilizing glaciers. Erratic rainfall patterns are overwhelming natural drainage systems.
Experts now call for a complete reassessment of infrastructure policy in Himachal — including bans on construction near rivers, better slope-stabilization in road projects, and improved early warning systems for landslides and flash floods.
“What’s happening is not natural anymore,” said a climate scientist from IIT Mandi. “It’s a man-made disaster wrapped in nature’s disguise.”
Beyond Numbers: The Lives Left Behind
In the hills of Mandi, statistics cannot capture the grief. Each day, as clouds gather, a quiet anxiety grips the village once more.
Shimla– In times of conflict, journalism must rise to its noblest purpose: truth, accountability, and responsibility. And yet, as India and Pakistan faced off once again across borders—bullets flying, lives lost, families shattered—a section of the Indian media turned tragedy into theatre.
From the moment reports of cross-border attacks surfaced, several primetime news anchors transformed their studios into shrill war rooms. Not to inform, but to inflame. Graphic war music, animated explosions, ticker tapes screaming “BREAKING”—the spectacle began. As soldiers bled on the border, TV screens bled hyperbole.
The most damning criticism did not come from adversaries but from global media observers. The BBC described Indian news channels’ coverage as “jingoistic and unhinged”. Al Jazeera and The Guardian echoed similar sentiments, noting how unverified reports, doctored videos, and belligerent studio debates replaced sober reportage.
Anchors, who had never seen a trench or a frontline, banged desks demanding military action. Unconfirmed reports were aired without attribution. Words like “annihilation,” “revenge,” and “surgical strike 2.0” were thrown around with theatrical bravado. There was no time to pause for facts. There was no room for nuance. There was only TRP.
The absurdity reached its peak when a few channels aired animations of fighter jets with triumphant music. Meanwhile, real families were burying their dead – soldiers and civilians alike.
In this chaos, journalism died a quiet death.
Media as Vultures
The metaphor is tragically apt. These channels, masquerading as patriots, behaved like vultures—circling the battlefield, feeding off the dead for ratings. Their hunger wasn’t for truth, but for viewership. They amplified hatred, dismissed dissent, and turned war into primetime entertainment.
And in doing so, they embarrassed India, not just at home but before the world.
The Cost of Sensationalism
When media loses its spine, democracy loses its mirror. The consequence is not just embarrassment—it’s danger. Misinformation in wartime can escalate conflict, trigger communal unrest, and mislead policymakers. A responsible media can cool tensions. An irresponsible one can fan the flames.
We must ask: Where is the human cost of war—the widows, the orphans, the destroyed homes? Where is the perspective from peace-builders, historians, and diplomats? Journalism is not supposed to echo government talking points—it is supposed to hold power to account, especially in wartime.
What Needs to Change
The Press Council of India, the News Broadcasting & Digital Standards Authority (NBDSA), and civil society must take stronger action against media outlets that violate ethical standards. Viewers too must switch off noise in favor of news. The Indian media must remember that its loyalty is to truth—not to war, not to government, and certainly not to TRP.
War is not a spectacle. Soldiers are not content. And journalism is not war-mongering.
It is time Indian newsrooms return to their core duty: informing citizens with accuracy, dignity, and humanity.
Himachal’s LPG Supply Hit Amid Global Tensions, Likely to Affect Hospitality Industry
Himachal Teen Survives 12-Minute Leopard Attack, Kills Predator in Self-Defense
Weather Forecast for Himachal Pradesh For the Next Two Weeks
Monsoon 2025: Himachal Pradesh Suffers 199 Casualties, Over ₹1,905.50 Cr in Damages
Home Decor Ideas 2020