2012 murder: Second accused gets life term

The District and Sessions Court in Dharamsala has sentenced the second accused in the 2012 Khaniyara murder case to life imprisonment, bringing a long-pending chapter of the crime to a close. Mohinder, known locally as Bhota and a resident of Lunta in Khaniyara village, was found guilty of murdering Om Prakash, alias Phimmu, a labourer from Pathiyar, inside a room of his own house. The sentence was pronounced by the Additional Sessions Judge.

Along with the life term, the court imposed additional prison sentences of one year, three years and five years under various sections of the IPC. All these sentences will run concurrently. Mohinder has also been fined a total of Rs 63,000, including Rs 50,000 for the murder charge.

The case dates back to February 23, 2012, when Om Prakash was discovered dead on a cot in the accused’s room. The complainant, Ratna Chand, brother-in-law of the deceased, received a phone call alerting him to the incident. On reaching the spot around 9.30 am, he found Om Prakash lying motionless. In his written complaint, he named Deepu and Mohinder as the assailants who allegedly attacked Om Prakash after an argument.