Nine persons, followers of JD(S) national general secretary Zafrulla Khan, charged with murdering a rice merchant in 2010, were sentenced to life imprisonment by the IV Additional District and Sessions Court on Thursday.
According to the Mandya West station police, Rafi Ulla was brutally attacked by the gang with lethal weapons on January 18, 2010. Later, nine were arrested in connection with the murder. All facing charge of murder were sentenced to life by the court. They are: Former Mandya City Municipal Council (CMC) members Mujahid Pasha and Afroz Ahmed, and their associates Mujahid Ahmed, Firdos Ahmed, Matib Ahmed, Irshad Ali Khan, Imran Pasha, Mohammed Ali and Tousif Ahmed.
Zafrulla Khan was named as accused No 1 in the FIR. However, he approached the High Court. Later, his name was removed based on the court order.
The judge, Rajeshwari N. Hegde, sentenced all the nine to life imprisonment and also imposed a fine of ₹25,000 each, the police added.