A Joypurhat court on Thursday sentenced nine people to life in prison for murdering a farmer over land dispute in Joypurhat Sadar upazila around 11 years back.

Joypurhat Additional Sessions Judge's Court-1 Judge Md Nurul Islam also fined the convicts Tk 50, 000 each, in default of which they will have to serve two more years’ jail, said a public prosecutor.

The convicts are Abdul Rouf, son of late Feraz Uddin, Ruhul Amin, son of Md. Ali, Ali Hossain and Khokon Hossain, sons of Abdur Rouf, Belal Hossain, son of late Asir Uddin, Rokon Hossain and Babu Hossain, sons of Akhtaruzzaman, Mizanur Rahman, son of late Abu Sayeed and Sirajul, son of Mizanur Rahman. 

The court also acquitted two defendants as the allegations brought against them were not found to be true.  

According to the case statement, the accused attacked victim Nurul Hoque and others when they were harvesting crops on land in Hichmi area of Joypurhat Sadar upazila on November 1, 2013, leaving them critically injured.

Nurul succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment at Bogura Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Medical College Hospital a few days after he had been admitted.

Later, the victim’s son Masum filed a murder case with Joypurhat sadar police station against 11 identified people and eight to 10 unidentified ones.

After completing legal procedures, the court handed down the judgment.