A Pirojpur court on Monday convicted five people and sentenced them to life imprisonment for shooting and killing a man during a robbery in Bhandaria upazila of Pirojpur district in 2005.

Pirojpur Additional district and Session Judge Moktagir Alam handed down the punishment.

The convicts are—Salam Hawladar, 50, Md Alamgir, 58, A Malek, 66, Firoz Molla, 57 and Ayub Ali, 58. Three of them tried in absentia.

The court also fined Tk 20,000 each, in default, to suffer three months more in rigorous imprisonment.

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According to the prosecution, the convicts went to Kapalir Hat Bazar in North Shialkathi village in Bhandaria upazila for committing robbery on November 3, 2005.

They swooped into the shop of Rakibul Islam. Sensing the presence of the robbers, Rakibul, who was sleeping in his shop raised hue and cry.

Sensing danger, the robbers tried to flee the scene and opened fire on local people to make their safe exit, leaving Md Mizan, 23, son of A Somed, injured.

Later, he was taken to Bhandaria Upazila Health Complex and then shifted to Barishal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College and Hospital where the doctors declared him dead.

A case was filed against 10-12 people in this connection.

Police submitted chargesheet against 12 people.

After examining records and witnesses, the court sentenced five people to life imprisonment and acquitted seven people as allegations brought against them could not be proved.