Mainpuri, March 18 -- A court in the Mainpuri district of Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday sentenced three persons to death in the Dehuli massacre which took place forty-four years ago. 24 Dalits were killed in the incident.

Special judge Indira Singh convicted Kaptan Singh, Rampal and Ram Sevak on March 12. Apart from sentencing, the court imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh on the convicts who broke down inside the court as soon as the punishment was pronounced.

The court termed the case 'rarest of the rare' due to the brutality which was done with the victims.

The court added that since this is one of the rarest of rare cases, it would be justified to award the death penalty to the convicted offenders with the firm belief that it would act not only...