A court in Mohali has delivered a significant verdict, sentencing four individuals to life imprisonment for the brutal murder of a daily wage labourer back in 2018. The court found the accused guilty of killing Parshuram after a dispute over unpaid wages, marking the culmination of a prolonged legal battle.
The Court's Verdict and Sentences
On Tuesday, the local court pronounced life terms for Bhagwan Das, Devanand, Deepak Kumar, and Prem Chand. The judge convicted them under Section 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code and other related offences. Each convict was also slapped with a fine of Rs 50,000. The court ruled that failure to pay the fine would result in an additional six months of rigorous imprisonment.
In a detailed order, the court specified additional sentences for Bhagwan Das. He received three years of imprisonment under Section 148 (rioting, armed with deadly weapon) and one year under Section 323/149 (voluntarily causing hurt as part of an unlawful assembly). These sentences will run concurrently with his life term.
Details of the 2018 Attack
The tragic incident traces back to August 26, 2018. According to the prosecution, the victim's brother, Shyam Bahadur, worked as a labourer under contractor Devanand for a daily wage of Rs 300. On the fateful day, Shyam went to demand his pending wages when he was confronted by Devanand and his associates—Bhagwan Das, Deepak Kumar, Prem Chand, and Ratan—outside their hutment.
A heated argument quickly escalated into violence. The accused, armed with iron rods, launched a savage assault on Shyam. When his brother, Parshuram, intervened to rescue him, the attackers turned on him. They struck Parshuram repeatedly on the head and face, causing him to collapse. Another brother, Khajanchi Chauhan, was also beaten when he tried to stop the attack. The accused fled the scene as villagers gathered.
Aftermath and Trial
The injured were rushed to the civil hospital in Kharar. Due to the severity of his injuries, Parshuram was referred to the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGI) in Chandigarh. He succumbed to his injuries the following day.
Acting on information from PGI, the Balongi police registered a case under IPC Section 302 and arrested the accused. After extensive trial proceedings, the court concluded that the prosecution had successfully proved the charges beyond reasonable doubt. The judge emphasized the gravity of the crime while delivering the sentence.
The case against the fifth accused, Ratan, remains pending before the court and will be heard separately. This verdict brings a measure of justice to the family of Parshuram, who lost his life in a violent dispute over rightful wages.
