Manjunath trust wants death sentence to 2 convicts

Lakhimpur Kheri (UP), Mar 26: S Manjunath Trust today announced that it will appeal in the Allahabad High Court demanding capital punishment for two other convicts along with Monu Mittal, who have been sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of the IOC official.

Trust Counsel I B Singh told sources here that they will move the High Court very soon so that two accused, Devesh Agnihotri and Rajesh Verma, are also given capital punishment.

Both the accused were accomplices in the killing of Manjunath as Rajesh gave his revolver to Manu for the murder while Devesh tried to throw away the body, he said.

Though satisfied with the court judgement, Mr Singh said more stringent punishment should be given as a deterrent to others.

Meanwhile, Pilihbit-based lawyer V D Pandey, the counsel for the eight convicts, said he will also move the High Court against the award of capital punishment to Monu and life imprisonment to other seven accused.

Earlier, a local court awarded capital punishment to Monu Mittal and life imprisonment to seven others in the Manjunath Murder case. The seven who have been given life imprisonment are, Rakesh Anand, Vivek Sharma, Devesh Agnihotri, Sanjay Awasthi, Shivkesh Giri, Harish Mishra and Rajesh Verma.

UNI