HYDERABAD, April 2: Anti-terrorism court judge Ali Ashraf Shah on Thursday awarded life imprisonment to two accused in two separate cases of kidnapping for ransom and murder.

Ghulam Rasool and Mukhtar Gum were sentenced to life imprisonment and fine of Rs100,000 each for kidnapping Mohammad Ali Talpur from the jurisdiction of the Tando Mohammad Khan police station on June 23, 2003, on a case lodged by Noman Talpur. The court also ordered confiscation of the convicts’ property.

In case of default of fine, the convicts would have to undergo a further year of imprisonment. However, co-accused Nawab Khaskheli was sentenced to five years of imprisonment with a fine of Rs100,000.

Ghulam Rasool and Mukhtar were awarded another life sentence for the murder of the hostage, who was killed on June 27, 2003, during an operation launched for his recovery.

They would have to pay an additional fine of Rs100,000 each to the heirs of the deceased, and in case of default, would undergo another year of imprisonment.

THEFT CASE: Bhittai Nagar police have registered a case against two persons for stealing rollers from the gates of the Kotri Barrage.—Correspondent