Dhaka: A tribunal in Dhaka on Monday sentenced four people to life term imprisonment while seven others to 10 years each in the sensational four-murder case in Narsingdi in 2006.

The lifers are Al Amin, Shahin Mia, Kala Mia alias Kala Chan and Alek alias Alek Chora of Musapur village in Raipura upazila of Narsingdi district. Of them, Al Amin, Shahin and Kala Mia were tried in absentia.

The court also fined them Tk 20,000 each, in default, to suffer one year more rigorous imprisonment.

The other convicts are Mobarak, Jamal alias Lengra Jamal, Anwar Hossain Anar, Mistu Mia alias Mobarak Ali, a freedom fighter, Zillu Mia, Tarek Mia and Jamal Mia. Of them, Mobarak was tried in absentia.

After examining the records and 19 witnesses, Dhaka Speedy Trial

Tribunal Court-3 Judge Syed Ahmed handed down the verdict.

The judge in his observation said there was negligence in the investigation of the case and for this reason the convicts could not be sentenced to death although they deserve death penalty.

According to the prosecution, Al Amin had an enmity with his neighbour Samsuddin Molla of the village over a piece of land.

On 27 November 2006, Al Amin along with his supporters swooped on the house of Shamsuddin and stabbed Shamsuddin’s two daughters Runa, 27, and Romana, 26, and his two grandchildren­–Runa’s nine-month old daughter Borno and Romana’s 21-day old son Arnab–with sharp weapons, leaving them dead on the spot.

Shamsuddin filed a case in this connection the following day.

Sultan Mahmud, a CID inspector, submitted a chargesheet against 12 people on 4 June 2011.

Meanwhile, the case was shifted to the Speedy Trial Tribunal in Dhaka on 19 June 2014.

Among the 12 accused, the trial of an adolescent accused is going on in the district court.