AGRA: In a verdict nearly two decades in the making, a court in Agra has sentenced six men to life imprisonment for the brutal murder of a villager who had refused to vote for their preferred candidate during panchayat elections. The incident occurred on August 23, 2005, in Ladam Mankeda village under the Malpura police jurisdiction.
The court found Jitendra Singh, Bablu Singh, Pawan Singh, Girraj Singh, Govind Singh, and Balvir Singh—now all in their late 40s—guilty of murdering 35-year-old Dharampal Singh. The killing was reportedly triggered by Dharampal and his brother Dharamveer Singh’s refusal to support the accused’s chosen candidate. Both brothers had backed rival Independent candidates.
“They tried to coerce us into voting for their nominee, but we stood our ground,” Dharamveer told investigators during the inquiry. On the evening of the attack, the accused confronted the brothers, first beating them with sticks and then shooting Dharampal during the ensuing clash. He was rushed to SN Medical College but succumbed to his injuries shortly after.
A First Information Report (FIR) was filed the next day under IPC Sections 147 (rioting), 148 (rioting with deadly weapons), 149 (unlawful assembly), and 302 (murder), along with sections of the Arms Act.
The six were arrested on September 15, 2005. The following day, investigating officer NC Gangawar recovered a country-made .315 bore firearm and two live rounds hidden in a bajra field, based on a confession by Bablu Singh.
“He led us directly to the spot where the weapon was buried,” Gangawar confirmed.
A chargesheet was filed on September 30, 2005. During the trial, Balvir Singh appealed for leniency, citing it as his first offence and claiming he was the sole provider for his family, including two children. The court, however, rejected his plea for mercy.
Additional District and Sessions Judge Rajendra Prasad handed down the verdict, sentencing all six men to rigorous life imprisonment. A seventh accused, Sattoo Singh, died during the trial in 2006.
In addition to life sentences, each convict was fined ₹28,500. Failure to pay the fine will result in an additional three-year prison term. The court directed that 70% of the collected fines be awarded to Dharampal Singh’s family as compensation.
The case stands as a stark reminder of how electoral disputes can spiral into deadly violence, and it brings long-awaited justice to a family that has waited nearly 20 years for closure.
