HP High Court acquits five of murder charges

Shimla, Mar 20 (UNI) Turning down the decision of a fast track court, the Himachal Pradesh High Court today acquitted five accused facing life imprisonment on charges of murder.

The division bench of Justices Surjit Singh and Surender Thakur observed that the prosecution has been unable to prove the allegations of murder beyond reasonable doubts and therefore the accused could not be convicted.

The Dharamshala fast track court had convicted the five accused on charges that they had collectively killed Balbir Chand by pounding with sticks, a resident of Pragpur village in Kangra district.

They had also been asked to deposit a sum of Rs 25,000 as fine.

Following arguments by the accused counsels that were contradictions between the allegations levelled by the police and the statements of the witnesses, the court overturned the fast track court's decision.

UNI XC AS HS MMS1915