Jhunjhunu: In the high-profile murder case of former sarpanch Sardar Rao of Jurathanda village near Palsana in Sikar district, a special court (SC ST Atrocities Prevention Act) Thursday pronounced the verdict, convicting and sentencing three accused to life imprisonment and six accused to 10 years’ imprisonment.Notably, gangster Lawrence Bishnoi and a co-accused, Yatendra, were acquitted as the court found insufficient evidence to support the charges against them. Deputy Director of Prosecution Dilawar Singh said the court sentenced Hardevram, Arun and Harvinder to life imprisonment. Mukesh, Bhanu Pratap, Om Prakash Mund, Sunil, Kuldeep and Narendra were sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment each. Currently, one accused, Subhash Baral, remains at large, with police conducting ongoing searches for his arrest.
Another accused, Ankit Bhadu, died in a police encounter with the Punjab Police Special Team prior to the trial.
The verdict was pronounced by Special Judge (SC/ST Atrocities Prevention Act) Renuka Hudda after the court examined evidence including testimony of 76 witnesses, 235 exhibits and 44 articles. All accused were produced amid tight security, with additional police deployment on the court premises. Eight accused were produced in person, while three were linked through video conferencing. Former sarpanch Sardar Rao was shot dead on Aug 23, 2017, when two shooters opened fire on him while he was sitting at a shop in Palsana town. The former sarpanch was pronounced dead at the scene. Police said the attack was linked to electoral rivalry. The case was registered at Ranoli police station on a complaint by the victim’s father.
