A Cumilla court has sentenced a husband and wife to life imprisonment in the murder case of Shilpi Rani Das, who was killed following a land dispute in Chandina. Additional District and Sessions Judge First Court Judge Mithila Islam delivered the verdict at about 12:30pm on Monday. Samir Chandra Das, 42, and his wife Rupali Rani Das, 37, were absent when the judgment was announced, while co-accused Bakul Rani Das was present and acquitted.

According to court sources, an argument over land took place on January 10, 2018, in Mahichail, Chandina, involving Ranjit Chandra Das, his wife Shilpi Rani Das and the accused. The three accused allegedly attacked the couple with sharp machetes. Shilpi was declared dead at Chandina উপজেলা Health Complex, while Ranjit was treated in Cumilla and later Dhaka.

The victim’s brother-in-law filed the murder case the same day. The prosecution presented 18 witnesses. The court imposed life terms and fines of Tk10,000 each under Penal Code section 304(1)(b), with additional penalties for non-payment. It also handed each convict seven years’ rigorous imprisonment and Tk5,000 fines under section 302.