A 50-year old farmer was sentenced to death and three others to life imprisonment yesterday for killing a co-villager over land dispute nine years ago.

District and Sessions Judge Mohsin Molla handed down the death penalty to Hamiruddin at a crowded court for killing Akibur. The lifers with a fine of Tk 5,000 each are Shamsul Islam,50, Abdus Samad, 47, and Abu Bakkar, 45. All the convicts hail from Padumshahar village of Saghata upazila.

The prosecution said on January 26,1996 Khaja Mia, brother of the Akibur, was ploughing his land. Shamsul Islam raised objection leading to the quarrel. At one stage Hamiruddin hacked Akibur on his head with a sharp weapon. Fatally wounded Akibur died in Gaibahda Sadar hospital.