Murder earns entire family life sentence

A court has sentenced a family, including five women, to life imprisonment for igniting a riot leading to the murder of a senior citizen, who prevented the accused from grabbing land in an MCD park in Bankner village, Narela, in 2002, reports Sumit Saxena.

A court has sentenced a family, including five women, to life imprisonment for igniting a riot leading to the murder of a senior citizen, who prevented the accused from grabbing land in an MCD park in Bankner village, Narela, in 2002.

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Additional Sessions Judge Paramjit Singh said the victim Baljeet (70) was murdered brutally as the entire accused family had stabbed him to death in front of his family.

A.K. Gupta, prosecution counsel, submitted that on May 18, 2002, Baljeet was strolling in the Park outside his house. A group of MCD workers were fixing an iron bench in the park. Daya Kishen, Baljeet’s neighbour, took umbrage at the MCD workers and asked them to vacate the park. Kishen said the Park belongs to his family, and they are rearing their personal cattle there. Baljeet tried to stop Kishen from forcing the workers out; but Kishen called his family members. All of them, armed with cricket bats and lathis, threatened Baljeet and the MCD workers.

Meanwhile, a riot broke out and Kishen and his family charged at the crowd. They caught Baljeet and stabbed him to death. They also made Baljeet’s wife Raj Bala, sister Gyanwati and daughter Prakashwati, see his death.

The court dismissed defence counsel arguments that Baljeet’s family had falsely implicated Kishen and his family, and that he was killed by the mob.

The prosecution contended that Daya Kishen is a known land grabber of the village. The court has imposed a fine of Rs 7000 each on Kishen’s family.