Banaskantha, September 10: Eight persons were sentenced to 10 years rigorous imprisonment by a local court here today for murdering a youth two years ago.
Additional sessions judge V D Charan hearing the case, sentenced Amthabhai Bhutka and seven others, to 10 years rigorous imprisonment for murder of one Ramesh Patel (24) in Salla village some 18 km from here.
According to case details, Ramesh had eloped with Amthabhai’s daughter, both from the Salla village, in August 2007 to get married.
The girl’s family members, who were against the marriage, had traced the couple and brought the girl back to the village, while Ramesh returned to the village on August 23, 2007.
The very next day, 12 armed members from the girl’s family, including her father and brothers, broke into Ramesh’s house, tied him to a tractor and dragged him through the village before killing him.
Seven others convicted are Amathabhai, Kamaraj Bhutka, Amtha Gova Bhutka, Karsan Bhutka, Ashok Bhutka, Talashi Kotadiya, Suresh Bhutka and Prabhu Bhutka.
While four others Jagdish Vaidya, Madhubhai Bhutka, Deva Kotadiya and Shankar Bhutka were acquitted for want of evidence.
—Agencies