Justice after 11 years
Five robbers sentenced to death for killing three retail traders
A Cumilla court yesterday sentenced five people to death for killing three small traders in Laksham upazila in 2007.
Nur Nahar Begum Shiuly, additional district and sessions judge, passed the verdict.
The convicts are Abdur Rahman, 25, Shahidullah Shahid, 27, Faruk Hossain, 30, Md Russel, 30, and Md Swpan, 30, all residents of Sreyang village of the upazila.
The five have been absconding since the day of killings.
According to court sources, on January 6, 2007, vegetable traders Uttam Debnath, 27, Porikkhit Debnath, 12, and betel leaf trader Bacchu Mia, 30, were returning home by a rickshaw van from Sreyang Bazar after closing their shops around midnight.
In Bodir Pukur area, the robbers stopped them and killed all three by slitting their throats to snatch Tk 1,400 from them.
Victims Uttam and Porikkhit, son of Monindra Debnath, lived in Protappur village and Bacchu Mia in Jagotpur of Laksham upazila.
The next day, Kabir Hossain, younger brother of Bacchu, filed a murder case against unknown criminals.
After 10 months of investigation, Laksham police submitted charge sheet against the five.
Advocate Abu Taher represented the state and advocate Naima Sultana the accused.