INDIA: 4 GET DEATH SENTENCE FOR KILLING 3 RELATIVES OVER PROPERTY DISPUTE

September 25, 2024:

A fast-track court (FTC) in Mainpuri (Uttar Pradesh) has sentenced a 32-year-old man from Etawah to death for his involvement in the murder of his three relatives, including a couple in their early 50s and their minor son, in a 12-year-old property dispute case.
The court had previously sentenced the primary accused in the case and two of his accomplices to death in Jan 2022.
According to additional district government counsel (ADGC) Manoj Kumar Verma, the main accused, Manish Yadav from Jalalpur Karhal area, had a dispute with his father Sukhram over property. He was also unhappy with his father's second marriage with Sushma Devi.
"On Oct 1, 2012, Manish along with three other relatives -- Virendra, Kamlesh alias Kallu and Sunil (all residents of Etawah) -- shot Sukhram, Sushma and their minor son Abhishek dead," the ADGC said.
Following a complaint by Sukhram's brother, Avadh Singh, a case was registered under relevant IPC sections, including 302 (murder). The four accused were sent to jail and a chargesheet was submitted in court weeks later.
In Jan 2022, on behalf of the prosecution, witnesses, including the plaintiff, investigator and doctor testified against Manish, Virendra and Kamlesh in court and they were sentenced to death. Sunil, however, contested the charges, claiming he was a minor at the time of the crime.
On September 17, the court determined that Sunil was 19 and a half years old when the murders occurred and he was awarded death penalty by FTC II judge Bhooleram. A fine of Rs 50,000 was also imposed on the convict.