Public Prosecutors Mahendra Kumar Dwivedi and Vimal Kumar Singh said that on July 11, 2002 Bhalua was shot dead in front of his house in Devrar village under Marka police station over land dispute.

"A case was lodged against Surajbali, his Lambri alias Shiv Mangal Yadav and their accomplice Satyadev Yadav in this regard," they said.

Prosecution counsels said that after investigation the police filed a charge sheet against the accused in the court.

"Based on the evidence available on record the SC-ST court of Additional District and Sessions Judge Anu Saxena held the accused guilty and sentenced them to life imprisonment," they said.

(With UNI inputs)