Aug. 16: Two farmers who robbed, murdered and dumped the body of a friend in a drain four years ago have been sentenced to life imprisonment.

Pronouncing the verdict, district and sessions judge Muslim Ali said Jamiruddin Barbhuiya, 30, of Cheptibrojapur and Moinul Haque, 65, of Dhalcherra had been found guilty of premeditated murder and would have to undergo rigorous imprisonment for life.

The judge acquitted two more accused — Jamiruddin’s wife Milan Bibi and friend Gulab Khan — for want of adequate evidence.

On the morning of May 29, 2002, the convicted duo and the victim, Basiruddin Barbhuiya of Bahadurpur Point I village, had headed for Silchar from Hailakandi to purchase some agricultural products.

Jamiruddin and Moinul returned home without Basir in the evening.

When the victim’s brother Jalaluddin and sisters Neni Bibi and Karbul Bibi enquired about his whereabouts, the duo said Basiruddin decided to visit Nagaland and he would return after a few days.

Not satisfied with their reply, the siblings filed an FIR on June 5 at Hailakandi Sadar police station.

The police arrested Jamiruddin and his wife at Gachtala area, in Hailakandi town, a few days later. Jamiruddin confessed that he and Moinul never went to Silchar with Basiruddin.

The killers actually took the victim to Moinul’s residence at Dhalcherra, along the Assam-Mizoram border in southern Hailakandi, where they chopped his body into pieces and buried the remains in a drain.

On the basis of the statement, the police arrested Moinul and exhumed Basir’s remains. Dr K. Zaman Choudhury performed the post mortem at Hailakandi civil hospital.

The conviction came after the judge recorded the statements of six persons. A large crowd gathered on the court premises on Monday to hear the judgment.

Advocate Joinath Rai represented the government and advocates N.H. Laskar, A.M. Laskar and R.A. Laskar were the counsel for the accused.