In Uttar Pradesh a special CBI court on Friday, sentenced three Police personnel to death and five others to life in jail in a three decades old shooting case. 12 villagers and a Deputy Superintendent of police were killed in the staged killing on March 12 1982 in Gonda district.

AIR Allahabad correspondent reports that the 10 other convicts have died during the period of the trial. The CBI had probed the case on the direction of the Supreme Court. Widow of killed police officers and Allahabad-based social activist had filed separate petitions in the Supreme Court for a CBI probe into the matter.

In its judgment the CBI court has said there was enough evidence for capital punishment against the then station house office SHO, the then constable, and head constable of concerned police station for plotting to kill the DSP.

The premier investigative agency began its probe in 1984 and found 19 police officials to be involved. All the accused awarded the death and life sentence had retired from service while only one was still serving and is currently posted as a sub-inspector in Jaunpur district.

Killed police officer KP Singh was from Ballia district and his wife, a state government officer is also now no more. His one of the daughters is an IAS officer of UP cadre.