A local court in Sangrur, Punjab, on Friday sentenced seven people to life and acquitted four for the murder of a  non-resident Indian.

The convicts, who were contract killers, had killed Jassi, an NRI who had married an auto rickshaw driver against the wishes of her family.

According to the prosecution, the contract killers attacked Jassi and her husband Sukhwinder with swords and hockey sticks on the night of June 8, 2000. They left Sukhwinder, presuming him to be dead, and abducted Jassi. Later, Jassi's body, bearing injuries from sharp-edged weapons, was found near a canal.

The Amargarh police registered a case in this regard on June 9, 2000. The court's decision came on Friday, sentencing seven of the convicts to life and imposing a fine of Rs 5,000 on them.

They were further sentenced to 10 years for abducting Jassi and to seven years for attempting to murder Sukhwinder.

Four of the accused - Ravinder Singh, Jaswant Singh, Kamaljit Singh of Ludhiana District and Gurnek Singh of Moga District - were acquitted, given the benefit of doubt.

More news: Punjab