Shimla, June 24 (Reporter) Pointing to the gravity of the brutal murder of a worker posted at a toll tax barrier, the Himachal Pradesh High Court upheld the life sentence given to half a dozen convicts, saying they deserved stringent punishment to serve as a deterrent to others. A Bench comprising Justice Vivek Singh Thakur and Justice Rakesh Kainthla dismissed the convicts’ appeal, holding that there was overwhelming evidence against them. The convicts had appealed against the life sentence handed down to them by the trial court in Solan district for the murder 11 years ago. The case, which involved a brutal attack on employees of a toll tax barrier in Bagheri, Solan District, resulted in the death of staff member, Naresh alias Gutti, and serious injuries to others on the night of April 3-4, 2013. The assailants, armed with pistols, swords, and rods, attacked the victims in a coordinated assault. The attackers included Gurdev Singh @ Debu, Gurvir Singh @ Jona, Gurcharan Singh @ Bhuru, Sukhvinder @ Bhau, Daljit Singh @ Kankal, and Ashok Kumar @ Rinku, among others. The police collected substantial forensic evidence, including blood samples, broken glass, and weapons during investigation. The trial was held at the Additional Sessions Court in Solan, where the accused were charged under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Arms Act. They were convicted of murder (Section 302 IPC), unlawful assembly (Sections 147, 148, 149 IPC), and other related charges. Each convict received a life sentence for murder, with additional sentences for other offenses, including rigorous imprisonment for violations of the Arms Act. During the hearing on the convicts’ appeal before Justice Thakur and Justice Kainthla, the High Court examined the evidence presented during the trial, including eyewitness testimonies and forensic reports. On Monday, the High Court delivered its judgement, confirming the convictions and sentences handed down by the trial court. The judges found the evidence against the appellants overwhelming and upheld the lower court's findings...////...