Life sentence to 22 people for burning three to death

A district court in Jharkhand on Thursday awarded life term to 22 people convicted in burning three people alive in Lohardagga district of Jharkahnd.

Additional District Judge Gopal Pandey on August 3 convicted 22 people after they were found guilty of burning three members of a family alive in 2016 in Lohardagga district. The quantum of sentence was delivered on Thursday.

On April 17, 2016, a mob locked a family in their house at Chipo Thekatoli village follwoing rumours of their involvement in human sacrifice and set it on fire. Two of them were rescued, one member of the family was seriously injured while three other - Govardhan, his wife Mado and daughter Sukhmania - were charred to death.

The villagers had alleged that Govardhan was involved in black magic and used to steal babies for the purposes of sacrifices. More than 50 villagers attacked his house and set it on fire. IANS