UP farmer shot dead in front of family, 4 men get life term nine years later

Four men have been sentenced to rigorous life imprisonment by a court in Uttar Pradesh's Bareilly district in connection with the 2017 murder of a farmer, officials said on Saturday.

Additional District and Sessions Judge Kuldeep Kumar convicted Sherpal, Radheshyam, Rajveer and Rambabu on Friday in the nearly nine-year-old case. The court also imposed a total fine of Rs 88,000, according to police.

The case dates back to February 22, 2017, when Om Prakash, a resident of Saidapur village under Faridpur police station, lodged a police complaint stating that his brother, Harishankar alias Bhure, was fatally attacked while working in a field.

According to the prosecution, Sherpal, Radheshyam, Rajveer and Rambabu reached the spot armed with weapons and opened fire at Harishankar with the intention of killing him.

Harishankar's wife Shakuntala, nephew Mahesh and mother Omwati were also present there at the time, per the complaint.

He suffered a gunshot injury and died on the spot. When Shakuntala tried to intervene, the accused assaulted her with the butt of a country-made pistol, causing an injury to her eye, the prosecution said.

Police said the accused fled after villagers reached the area on hearing the commotion.

An FIR was registered at Faridpur police station under Sections 302, 323 and 504 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

During the trial, the prosecution, represented by Additional District Government Counsel Rajeshwari Gangwar, examined 10 witnesses.

The court also ordered additional imprisonment for the convicts if they fail to pay the fines.- Ends(With PTI inputs)