4 get life for killing Dalit man for testifying against them in 2013

Agra: A special SC/ST court has sentenced four people to life imprisonment for the murder of a Dalit man after he refused to turn hostile in a murder case against them in Bewar, Mainpuri district, 11 years ago. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 15,000 on each convicted person.

The prosecution team told the court of special judge Meeta Singh that Sarvesh Jatav, 30, from Nanduliya village, and his brother Rajkumar were heading to attend the last rites of a villager on Oct 2, 2013, when they were attacked by Diwakar Pandey alias Kallu, Niwakar Pandey, Anil Chauhan, and Gore Lal.

The court heard testimony from several key witnesses, including Rajkumar, the investigator, and a medical expert. Additional district govt counsel (ADGC) M P Chauhan told TOI, “The deceased was a witness in a murder case and had refused to turn hostile despite pressure. The accused killed him for standing firm in his testimony.”

Rajkumar also gave his account to the police: “The accused arrived on a tractor-trolley. Kallu had an axe, Niwakar a sharp object, and the others carried illegal pistols. Kallu hit my brother on the head with the axe, causing him to fall. They then shot him in the head and neck, killing him on the spot.”

The accused were charged under relevant sections of the IPC, including section 302 (murder), and were arrested. While three of them were later released on bail, Kallu remained in custody throughout the trial. After the court’s judgment, ADGC Chauhan added, “The three who were out on bail have been taken back into custody and sent to jail.”

Courtesy:Times Of India

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