Meerut, Oct 6: Eight years after the brutal murder of a village head’s husband over a land dispute, the District and Sessions Court in Rampur has sentenced 23 people to life imprisonment, along with a fine of Rs 85,000 each.
The case dates back to 2017 in Gangapur Sharkee village, Milak area, where Sanjeev Pandey, husband of village head Sonu Devi, and his family were engaged in a long-standing land dispute with residents of a neighbouring area.
According to SHO Milak, Inspector Dhananjay Singh, on July 22, 2017, Sanjeev Pandey, along with his brothers Rajeev, Tarachand, and Baburam, went to inspect their land in the forested portion of the village. “Armed men lying in wait ambushed them, opening fire and attacking with sticks and rods. Sanjeev and two of his brothers were injured and taken to Bareilly for treatment, where Sanjeev succumbed to his injuries,” Singh said.
Following the attack, police filed a case based on Baburam’s complaint against 26 people, including 25 named accused, for murder, attempt to murder, and rioting. After the investigation, a chargesheet was filed against 23 individuals.
Assistant District Government Counsel Amit Kumar Saxena said, “After the trial, District and Sessions Judge Bhanu Deo Sharma found all 23 guilty and sentenced them to life imprisonment on Friday.”
This verdict brings closure to a case that had haunted the Gangapur Sharkee village community for eight years, emphasizing strict judicial action in violent land disputes. (Agencies)
