4 to walk gallows, 3 get life for murder in Jhalakathi

A court here yesterday sentenced four people to death and three others to life imprisonment for killing a man in 1998.

Six other accused in the case were acquitted as the charges brought against them could not be proved.

The court awarded capital punishment to Shahid Shikdar, Dulal Shikdar, Badal Shikdar and Nizam Shikdar.

The lifers are Harun Shikdar, Salam Shikdar and Minu Shikdar. The court also fined the lifers Tk 15,000 each, in default, to suffer one month more in jail.

All the convicts hail from Uttar Bhitabaria village in Bhandaria upazila of Pirojpur district.

According to the case statement, Badal Sardar of Uttar Bhitabaria village was stabbed to death by the convicts on September 1, 1998, following previous enmity.

Victim's father, Jalal Sardar later filed a case with Bhandaria Police Station accusing 15 people in this connection. After investigation, police submitted charge sheet against thirteen.

Following a High Court order, the case was transfered to Jhalakathi District and Sessions Judge's Court from Pirojpur in 2003.

After examining the records and witnesses Jhalakathi District and Sessions Judge's Court Judge SM Solaiman handed down the verdict.