Eight Indians accused of killing Pakistani pay blood money

Dubai, Feb 2 (PTI) Eight Indians facing trial forallegedly killing a Pakistani youth have paid blood money tothe victim''s father who agreed to a compromise and pardonedthem, a move likely to help the accused escape the gallows.

"We arranged the visit of the victim Mumtaz Yusuf''sfather Mohd Yusuf to Dubai. He appeared in the court and saidthat he has pardoned those involved," said Dubai-basedhotelier and businessman S P Singh Oberoi, who has paid themoney on behalf of the accused.

Mumtaz Yousuf died after a group clash in 2009 and 10youths -- eight Indians and two Pakistanis -- were tried forkilling him.

The compromise papers between the eight Indian accused,all from Punjab, and the victim''s family have been handed overto a three-judge jury in Sharjah''s Shariah court, Oberoi said.

The judgement in the case is scheduled to be delivered onFebruary 6. After having paid the blood money, the accused mayescape the death penalty.

Oberoi had also recently visited Punjab to apprise thefamilies of the accused about the developments in the case.

He said families of these men were not even awareof their whereabouts till another case of 17 Indians convictedfor the murder of a Pakistani man hit headlines early lastyear.