Six years on, life term for father-son duo

KOLHAPUR: The district and sessions court on Saturday charged a father-son duo with the murder of two persons in 2012 and sentenced them to life imprisonment.
The court presided over by district and sessions judge S D Jagmalani also slapped a fine of Rs 50,000 on each of them with a year's simple imprisonment if they failed to pay.
The court also found guilty a third accused and was booked under section 324 of IPC for voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means.
The convicts have been identified as Ananda Patil (63), his son Maruti (32) and Prakash Patil (24), all residents of Belawale Khurd in Kagal taluka. Ananda and Maruti were awarded life imprisonment. Prakash was released on a three-year personal bond of good behaviour as he is still pursuing his studies.
The deceased has been identified as Ravindra Dongale (27) and Prakash Patil (63), both from Belawale Khurd. The incident was reported on July 1, 2012 at a chowk in front of Bhaveshwari temple in the village.
According to prosecution, complainant Dinkar Kotekar who resides in the same village said there were two rival political groups in the village. One faction belonged to the complainant and victims and the faction of the accused served as the opponent group.
On June 30, 2012, both groups had an argument over petty issue and the quarrel was settled by the senior members of both groups. On July 1, when the victims were at a chowk in front of the Bhaweshwari temple, the accused along with their group members approached them.
Ananda was carrying double-barrel rifle and Maruti was armed with a revolver. They fired at the victims and attacked them with iron rods and sticks.
Two persons died on the spot and seven others were injured. A case was registered with the Kagal police, after which police arrested the accused.
"In all, 26 witnesses were examined and the statement of eyewitnesses, persons who sold cartridges to the accused and the medical officer played a crucial role in the sentence," A M Pirjade the public prosecutor said.