Khariar: Two men from Nehena village under Khariar police limits of Nuapada district were awarded life imprisonment today by a local court for murdering their elder brother over a land dispute on June 7, 2014. A fine of Rs 10,000 each was also imposed on the convicts.

In case of non-payment of the said fine amount, the convicts will undergo imprisonment for a further period of six months, a judgement order issued in this regard read.

A source said that the deceased elder brother Goutam Tahani (45) had land dispute with his younger brothers namely Narottam Tahani (42) and Debarchan Tahani (40). He had gone to his farmland for ploughing it on the intervening day along with his son Omprakash.

An altercation had ensued between Goutam and Debarchan. Things took an ugly turn when, in a fit of rage, Narottam and Debarchan attacked their elder brother with a baton. The convicted duo had fled from the spot soon after committing the crime, when Omprakash screamed for help.

Family of the deceased had rescued him from a pool of blood and rushed him to Khariar sub-divisional hospital for treatment. However, doctors at the health facility declared him ‘dead’.

Subsequently, based on an FIR lodged by Goutam’s brother-in-law Pancha Bagh, police had registered a case and arrested Narottam and Debarchan and forwarded both to court.