KAITHAL: Four persons who robbed a rice-laden truck at pistol point in 2018 have been convicted and sentenced by a Kaithal court, with fines also imposed on each of them.
Additional Sessions Judge (ADJ) Dr Nandita Kaushik awarded three years’ imprisonment and a fine of Rs 25, 000 to Satbir of Gurugram, four years’ imprisonment and a fine of Rs 25, 000 to Ajay of Cheeka, three years’ imprisonment and a fine of Rs 50, 000 to Sanjeev of Khedi Gujran (Punjab), and seven years’ imprisonment with a fine of Rs 75, 000 to Dharambir of Arjun Nagar, Kaithal. In case of non-payment of fine, each convict will have to undergo an additional one year of imprisonment.
According to DSP Bir Bhan, the incident took place on December 5, 2018. Kuldeep, a resident of Sulehada village in Jind district, was driving a 10-tyre truck (HR-56-8144) owned by Prem of Kalvan village. After loading rice from Jai Hanuman Trading Company in Tohana, he was headed towards Badauli (Saha).
At around 11:30 pm, near Kyorak, a car overtook the truck and forced it to stop. The accused, armed with pistols, overpowered driver Kuldeep and conductor Vikram of Kalvan, forced them into their car and looted the truck laden with rice. They also snatched mobile phones and Rs 15, 700 in cash, tied their hands, abandoned them in a forest area and fled.
A case was registered at Sadar police station. During investigation, the accused were arrested on the basis of technical and scientific evidence. After completing the probe, the police filed a chargesheet in court.
During trial, public prosecutor Kuldeep Garg presented the prosecution case, examining 26 witnesses. After considering the evidence and witness statements, the court, in its detailed 52-page judgment, held all four accused guilty and awarded the sentences.