ADJ court awards death penalty to man for killing younger brother in Dhanbad

The court of Additional District Judge (ADJ)-10 Dhanbad Neeraj Kumar Vishwakarma today awarded death sentence to the accused for killing his younger brother in a property dispute in a five-year-old case.

Public Prosecutor (PP) Anil Yadav said the court on Thursday (February 23) found accused Santosh Kumar Maht guilty in the case and announced the quantum of punishment today. The accused Santosh Kumar Mahto is already in judicial custody.

According to the FIR at Barwada police station on April 6, 2018, the incident happened in Virajpur village. Accused Santosh Mahto, who had a dispute with his younger brother Prem Kumar Mahto over the division of family property, hacked him to death with a sword. Santosh also injured his mother Chinta Devi when she came to save her younger son prem.

After receiving the information, the police reached the spot and arrested Santosh Mahto. Police also recovered a blood-soaked sword and a plastic rope.

After committing the crime, Santosh Mahto tried to commit suicide with a plastic rope but was arrested by the police. On the complaint of Laxmi Devi, wife of late Prem Maht, an FIR was lodged at Barwadd police station on 6 April 2018.

Four people were charged in court. On 4 July 2018, the police investigation filed a charge sheet against Santosh Mahto.