MATHURA: A Mathura courtroom right here has sentenced 15 males to life imprisonment in a 23-year-old case of violence towards members of the Dalit group during which an toddler was burnt alive.

Within the verdict delivered on Wednesday, Extra District and Classes decide (SC/ST Act), Manoj Kumar Mishra, additionally slapped a high quality of Rs 73, 000 on every of the convicts.

On January 23, 2001, some higher caste individuals began building work on panchayat land in Datia village underneath the Freeway police station space right here. Some Dalit group members opposed the development, resulting in a battle between the 2 teams, Particular Public Prosecutor Suresh Prasad Sharma stated on Thursday.

In accordance with a criticism lodged within the matter, the higher caste group thrashed Dalits, fired bullets and indulged in arson. Within the violence, a six-month-old Dalit lady was burnt alive in a hut and a person was shot within the thigh.

On the idea of the criticism, an FIR was registered towards 16 individuals. Names of eight extra accused got here to gentle in the course of the investigation.

Whereas 9 of the accused died in the course of the trial, the remaining 15 had been convicted by the courtroom, Sharma added.

The courtroom sentenced the convicts to life imprisonment and imposed a high quality of Rs 73, 000 on every of them, he stated.