Meerut, June 6 -- A local court in Hapur district sentenced two men to life imprisonment for the 2021 murder of Rajkumar alias Monu, an e-rickshaw driver from Nanpur village under jurisdiction of Garhmukteshwar police station. The court found the accused-Raju Singh, the victim's brother-in-law, and Gautam Singh, Raju's brother-guilty of premeditated murder, criminal conspiracy and destruction of evidence, said additional district government counsel Naresh Chandra Sharma. Alongside life imprisonment, the court imposed a total fine of Rs 70,000 on each convict. In the event of default in payment, additional imprisonment ranging from one to three months per offence was mandated. The sentences will run concurrently. According to case records, on February 12, 2021, Rajkumar had left his home around 6 pm after receiving a ride booking to Bhovapur village under Simbhaoli police limits. He never returned. His brother, Deepu alias Vikrant, lodged a missing person's report at the local police station. Despite Rajkumar carrying a mobile phone, no contact could be established. Police initiated an investigation and, after extensive searches, recovered Rajkumar's body from a sugarcane field in the forests near Bhovapur. His throat had been slit. The post-mortem confirmed a brutal killing. Following forensic and field investigations, police arrested Raju Singh from Sarurpur village in Garhmukteshwar and Gautam Singh from Gaisupur village in Bulandshahr district. The two men, related to Rajkumar, confessed to the murder and admitted to stealing his e-rickshaw. They had intended to eliminate Rajkumar and profit from the theft, ADGC informed. The chargesheet was submitted under various sections of the Indian Penal Code including: Section 302 (Murder), Section 201 (Causing disappearance of evidence) and Section 120B (Criminal conspiracy). "The forensic team's swift response was crucial in solving the case. Experts collected fingerprint and footprint samples from the crime scene, which were later matched with the suspects'. These scientific proofs were presented in court and played a decisive role in securing the conviction," ADGC said. Rajkumar, who was unmarried, drove an e-rickshaw to support his family. He lived with his elder brother in Nanpur village. The heinous betrayal by close relatives has left the family emotionally shattered, though they expressed satisfaction with the court's ruling. "This verdict brings some peace to our family," a relative said, following the sentencing. htc...