4 get life term, 3 jailed for 5 yrs in poll violence
Special judge Ramvilas Singh sentenced four accused — Vindhyachal Singh, Dhirendra Singh, Ravi Singh and Sant Singh—to rigorous life imprisonment for murder and attempt to murder and charges under provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The other three convicts — Dwarka, Baijnath, and Saryu Prasad — were convicted of attempt to murder and awarded five-year jail.
The court also imposed a fine of Rs 9,000 each on the trio.Special public prosecutor, Sudip Mishra, told TOI that the clash took place on Aug 19, 2016, in Bhiti block of Ambedkarnagar. Baijnath, a local resident, had lodged an FIR alleging that he and his brothers — Haridwar, Saryu Prasad, Brijesh, and Dwarka — were attacked by Santosh, Vindhyachal and Dhirendra Singh. Santosh and Vindhyachal allegedly opened fire with illegal weapons that killed Haridwar on the spot while Dwarka, Saryu and Brijesh sustained serious injuries, the FIR stated.In a cross-complaint, Santosh Singh claimed he was shot at by Haridwar with a licensed revolver in a market.
The court, relying on eyewitness accounts and medical evidence, found the assault and murder to be a result of premeditated caste and election rivalry, and passed the above verdict.
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News18
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Time of India
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