Cattle trader Majlum Ansari and Imitiaz Khan were found hanging from a tree on March 17, 2016.

A court in Latehar on December 21 awarded life term to eight men convicted in a case related to killing and hanging of two persons, including a minor, in March 2016.

The court of First Class Judicial Magistrate Rishikesh Kumar pronounced the sentence and slapped a fine of ₹25,000 on each of them, public prosecutor Balram Prasad said. In case of default or non-payment of fine, he said, the convicts would have to spend one more year in prison.

Majlum Ansari (32), a cattle trader, and Imitiaz Khan (12) were found hanging from a tree between Jhabar and Chetan areas under Balumath police station limits on March 17, 2016. They were reportedly taking their cattle to a village fair for sale when they were attacked. The police had said that they were beaten to death and then hanged from the tree.

Five men — Manoj Sahu, Pramod Sao, Awadhesh Sao, Mithilesh Sao alias Banti and Manoj Kumar Sao — were arrested shortly after the incident. The remaining three — Arun Sao, Sahadev Soni and Bishal Tiwari — had surrendered before a local court later.