A fast court has convicted and sentenced a murder accused within 39 days from the date of the crime, making it the country's fastest conviction in a murder case. District Additional Superintendent of Police Lalthanmawia informed that from the date of the crime to arresting the accused, filing the charge sheet, conducting the trial and handing down the verdict, it was all completed in just 39 days, an unrivalled judicial record in the country. Nineteen-year old Ramengmawia had murdered his paternal grandfather on December 24 last, under the influence of drugs at Buarpui village under Lunglei police station in North Mizoram, he said.

Mr. Lalthanmawia said the youth knew that his grandfather, carried money, tricked him to come on the outskirts of the village and attacked him with an axe. After taking around Rs 6,500 from his grandfather the accused ran away. The Lunglei police learned of the incident on the same day and immediately arrested the youth and brought him back. A case was registered against him under section 302 of the IPC dated December 24. The accused was then brought before additional district magistrate Lucy Lalrinthari. The prosecution had stated that although the youth was under the influence of drugs when he committed the crime, he was fully aware of the fact what he was doing. Accepting this, the magistrate passed her sentence.

Earlier, it was reported last month that a fast track court in Chennai had sentenced four accused with charges of murder within 44 days from the date of their crime, in which the prosecutor had claimed it to be a record conviction. It was reported that the fastest conviction in a murder case was done in Scotland where the case was put through the court in 40 days.

Mr. Lalthanmawia said, ''Now we can claim that Mizoram state police is the world record holder of having the fastest conviction in a murder case.''

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