Sylhet: A Speedy Trial Tribunal in Sylhet on Wednesday handed down death penalty to three people and seven years of rigorous imprisonment to two others for the killing of four schoolboys at Bahubal in Sylhet on February, 2016.

Tribunal’s Judge Moqbul Ahsan delivered the verdict at about 11:30am, said the public prosecutor of the case Kishor Kumar Kaur.

The lawyer said the death row convict are Habibur Rahman Arju, Rubel Mia, and Ustar Mia. On the other hand, Jewel Mia and Shoyeb Ahmed Bashir were given seven years of rigorous imprisonment. The Tribunal also acquitted Abdul Ali Bagal, Billal Mia, and Babul Mia from the case.

Among the accused, Ustar Mia, Babul Mia, and Billal are absconding.

The five accused were presented before the court at about 10:30am.

On 05 April, 2016, Detectives pressed charges against nine people in the case. Habiganj police detective branch officer-in-charge Abdul Muktadirsubmitted the chargesheet before the court.

The accused are Abdul Ali Baghal, Habibur Rahman Arju, Rubel Miah, Jewel Mian, Shaheb Ahmed Bashir, Billal Mia, Ustar Mia, and Babul Miah. Among the eight, the last three accused are on the run. However, Bacchu Mia was killed in a reported gunfight with Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) in Chunarughat upazila of the district on 25 February 2016.

Earlier, on 17 February, four schoolboys were found buried at Sundrateki village in Bahubal upazila, barely a week after they had gone missing.

Informed by locals, police recovered the bodies of Zakaria Ahmed Shuvo, 8, son of Wahid Miah, his two cousins—Tajel Miah, 10, son of Abdul Aziz, Monir Miah, 7, son of Abdal Miah—and Ismail Hossain, 10, son of Abdul Quadir.

A murder case was then filed with Bahubal Police Station. Later, the case was handed over to the Detective Branch of police.

On September 2016, the trail began in Habiganj district and sessions judge’s court.

Later, on 15 March 2017, the case was transferred to the Divisional Speedy Trial Tribunal in Sylhet.