5 get 2-year jail for social boycott

Nearly eight years after an incident of social boycott occurred in Bhatla village of the district, a Hisar court today sentenced five accused — Mahender alias Amit, Sunil, Subhash, Ravinder alias Sikander and Parvesh to two years’ imprisonment each.

Additional Sessions Judge Gagandeep Mittal, announcing the jail terms, also imposed a fine of Rs 7,000 each. All five were granted bail today. The court acquitted them of charges under the SC/ST Act related to casteist abuses.

Advocate Jile Singh Kantiwal said Sadar Hansi police had registered the case on June 16, 2017, based on a complaint by Rahul of the SC community. The FIR stated that on June 15, 2017, a dispute over drawing water led to injuries persons on two sides.