Azamgarh (UP), May 23 (UNI) A man was sentenced to life imprisonment along with a fine of Rs 50,000 by a local court here on Friday in a 13-year-old murder case in Mehnajpur area of

Azamgarh district here in Uttar Pradesh, a prosecution counsel said here.

Assistant Government Counsel (AGC) Pankaj Kumar said that nine accused were acquitted due to lack of evidence in this case. He said that on June 15, 2012, Dinesh Kumar, a resident of Binali, informed that Munna Ram, Sonu Ram, Lalchand Ram, Mahendra Singh, Harischandra, Zakir, Vijay, Ashwani alias Guddu, Pankaj and Manoj thrashed him and his wife Kusum.

He said when Dinesh's cousin Santosh came to rescue the couple, Manoj shot him with a pistol.

"Santosh died while being taken to the hospital. After completing the investigation, the police filed a charge sheet against all the accused in the court," he said.

Kumar said that a total of 12 witnesses were examined by the prosecution.

"After hearing the arguments of both the sides, the court of Additional Sessions Judge Santosh Kumar Yadav sentenced accused Manoj to life imprisonment and a fine of Rs 50,000," he said.

He said that Munna Ram, Sonu Ram, Lalchand, Mahendra Singh, Harischand, Zakir, Vijay,

Ashwani alias Guddu and Pankaj were acquitted due to lack of evidence.

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