Four Maoists sentenced to death for Chilkari massacre

Four Maoists were sentenced to death by a court here on Thursday for the 2007 Chilkari massacre of 20 villagers, including the former Chief Minister, Babulal Marandi's son.

Additional District and Sessions Judge (First) I.D. Mishra ordered that Chhatrapati Mandal, Manoj Rajwar, Jiten Marandi and Anil Ram be hanged till death for perpetrating the crime on October 26, 2007.

On Wednesday, the court acquitted Hafiz Ahmed, Tutlal Yadav, Kishan Rajwar, Ram Sahay Das, Sitaram Turi and Mangru Kisku for want of evidence.

Mr. Marandi's son Anup was among the villagers gunned down while they were watching a cultural programme at Chilkhari in Giridih district. Mr. Marandi's brother escaped the attack.

While 19 people had died instantaneously, a woman died the next day.

Apart from the death sentence under 302 of the Indian Penal Code, the court awarded them 22 years of prison terms under varying sections. They include two years of imprisonment under Section 148 (rioting armed with deadly weapon), one year under Section 342 (wrongfully confining any person), two years under Section 379 (theft) and three years under 120b (criminal conspiracy to commit an offence punishable with death, imprisonment).

They were also awarded a jail term for seven years under Sections 307/149 (attempt to murder/unlawful assembly) and seven years under the Arms Act.