Hathras court sentences 2 to death for murder of minor sisters

AGRA: A local SC/ST court in Hathras on Wednesday sentenced two men to death for the brutal murder of two minor sisters and the attempted murder of their parents. The heinous crime, which took place on the night of January 23, involved a conspiracy driven by greed and betrayal from within the victim’s own family.The convicted men, Vikas and Lalu Pal, were found guilty of killing Vidhi, 6, and Srishti, 12, the daughters of Chhote Lal Gautam, a teacher at Jawahar Smarak Inter College. The attack occurred in the teacher's home located in Ashirvad Dham Colony under Kotwali Sadar police limits, while the family was asleep.According to police and court findings, the assailants, who had been staying at the house, used a sharp weapon to slit the throats of the two girls. When Chhote Lal and his wife Veerangna woke up and tried to intervene, they too were brutally attacked and left seriously injured.Public Prosecutor Dinesh Yadav confirmed that the court awarded the death sentence to both accused on Wednesday. He said the murder was orchestrated by Chhote Lal's nephew, Sone Lal, who had allegedly offered Vikas and Lalu Pal a contract of Rs 2 lakh to eliminate the family in a bid to seize his uncle’s property.He further stated that the murder plot was a premeditated act of betrayal driven by property greed. “It is heartbreaking that such a crime was committed by a family member, targeting innocent children for financial gain,” he said.