Three get life term for kidnapping, murdering 4-year-old

A local court here has sentenced three persons to life imprisonment for abducting and murdering a four-year-old boy.

Additional District Sessions Judge Rajbir Singh yesterday held the three, including the victim's uncle, guilty for the murder of 4-year-old Sumit six years back. The judge also imposed a fine of Rs 65,000 each on the three convicts, identified as Pradeep (Sumit's uncle), Sunil, and Chouta.

According to the prosecution, Sumit was kidnapped on February 7, 2008 from Naya Gano area in Shamli district.

The family received a phone call the next day from the kidnappers demanding a ransom of Rs six lakh, police said, adding, the call was traced to the uncle's number. During preliminary investigation, Pradeep confessed to kidnapping and murdering the child with the help of two accomplices, police said. Sumit's body was then found from the railway tracks in Tatiri area, they added.