8 SENTENCED TO LIFE TERM IN HISAR TRIPLE MURDER

ROHTAK: A local court in Hisar on Friday sentenced eight persons to life imprisonment in connection with a triple murder case which took place at Shekhpura village on March 13, 2017. The court had held the accused guilty on Tuesday.

Additional district and session judge Ved Prakash held eight of 23 accused guilty in the case and sentenced them life term in jail. Those convicted are Subhash Chander, Ashok, Ajit, Dalel, Umed, Ramphal, Sandeep – residents of Shekhpura village, and Krishan, of Fatehabad district.

The then Hisar DSP Bhagwan Dass, who was an accused in the case, had shot himself dead in Panchkula two days after the triple murder.

Hisar police spokesman Vikas Kumar said three members of a family, identified as Ram Kumar, 60, Pradeep Kumar, 28, and Mukesh Kumar, 30, were shot dead by the accused and their supporters.

“A verbal spate during Holi revelry had taken a bloody turn between two neighbouring families having enmity for some years,” he added.

During panchayat polls, Subhash Chander had opposed Balbir Pradhan, who was a former sarpanch which had resulted in a violent scuffle between the two groups.

Balbir had urged the district administration to transfer DSP Bhagwan Dass as one of his family member was candidate in sarpanch poll and won the election.

Complainant Sanjay Kumar had alleged that they were sitting in their house and the rival group challenged them.

“As we came out of the house, DSP Bhagwan Dass who was sitting in a blue beacon-fitted car directed his accomplices to kill our family members. In the ensued firing, Ram, Pradeep and Mukesh, a BSF jawan who had come home on leave to celebrate Holi, were shot dead on the spot. Two others, Mukesh alias Pinnu and Rajesh, suffered injuries and were admitted at a private hospital,” he added.