In a significant verdict, the VII Additional District and Sessions Court in Ongole sentenced eight persons to life imprisonment for the murder of a 22-year-old tractor driver over his inter-faith relationship with a minor girl in 2015. Each convict was also fined ₹5,000.

Bapatla district Superintendent of Police Tushar Dudi, in a statement on Tuesday, said, “Justice is served when the guilty are convicted, and verdicts like this instil fear among criminals.”

Recalling details of the case, he added, “The murder stemmed from an inter-faith love affair between Buruga Ratnam Babu, a tractor driver from Ramakur village in J. Pangaluru mandal, and a 17-year-old girl from the same village. Despite repeated warnings from her family, the relationship continued. When the girl was sent away by her parents in anger, Ratnam Babu convinced his mother to shelter her until she turned 18, for marriage.”

According to police, on April 28, 2015, Shaik Munir Basha (A1) and Shaik Anwar Basha (A2) convinced Ratnam Babu that their families had agreed to the marriage. Under this pretext, they lured him to an isolated field in Ramakur and, along with others, stabbed him to death. His body was discovered the next morning by villagers.

Following an FIR filed by the victim’s mother, Martur police registered a case. Investigation led to collection of forensic evidence and eyewitness testimonies, and nine accused were arrested.

The SP informed that the court convicted Shaik Munir Basha, 22, Shaik Anwar Basha, 19, Shaik Nazir, 23, Shaik Karimulla, 43, Shaik Baji Bude, 21, Shaik Saddam Hussain, 19, Shaik Shakeela, 35, and Shaik Mastan, 66, while the ninth accused, Patan Maulali, was acquitted due to insufficient evidence.