Anger erupted outside a court in Chhattisgarh’s Dhamtari on Wednesday after five men were sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of three friends in a case that shocked the district.

Relatives of the victims expressed disappointment with the court’s decision and demanded the death penalty for the convicts. As the accused were being taken out of the court premises, some family members threw shoes, slippers and stones at them, shouting, “What did you gain by destroying our families?”

The court had sentenced all five adult accused to life imprisonment in the triple-murder case.

Families Demand Death Penalty

The victims’ relatives said the three men had left behind young children and argued that life imprisonment was not sufficient punishment.

One relative became emotional while recalling a young daughter of one of the victims, saying the child still looks towards the door expecting her father to return with chocolates.

The families said they were unhappy with the sentence and would consider challenging the verdict in a higher court.

Police personnel maintained security outside the court as the convicts were taken away in a prison vehicle.

Three Friends Killed After Dispute

The incident took place near Annapurna Dhaba in Bhoyna village under the Arjuni police station area of Dhamtari on the night of August 11, 2025.

According to the prosecution case, five young men travelling in a car had gone out in Dhamtari and stopped near the dhaba to ask about something.

Eight people were already at the dhaba and were reportedly involved in an argument over payment of a bill. The group was allegedly damaging chairs at the establishment.

When the five youths got out of their car, an argument broke out between the two groups. The dispute escalated into verbal abuse and then a physical confrontation.

Knife Attack Killed Three

During the altercation, the main accused, Gopi Diwan, allegedly attacked three of the youths with a knife.

The victims were identified as Alok Singh Thakur, Nitin Tandi and Suresh Nihal.

All three died at the scene from injuries sustained in the attack. The injured victims were taken to hospital after the incident, while police launched an investigation into the killings.

The case subsequently became known as the Dhamtari triple-murder case.

Five Adults Among Eight Accused

Police arrested the accused following the investigation. The case involved five adult accused and three juveniles.

Public prosecutor Geetesh Prajapati said the five adult accused had been convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment for the triple murder.

Additional sentences were also imposed for other offences. The accused received two years for rioting, five years for illegal possession of weapons and six months for assaulting others.

Gopi Diwan, Kuleshwar Netam and Ranveer Sahu were separately sentenced in the weapons-related case.

The prosecutor said sentences of up to three years would run concurrently.

Verdict Delivered Within a Year

The prosecution said the case was decided within roughly a year.

The charge sheet was submitted before the court on November 11, while the verdict was pronounced on August 12, 2026.

The prosecution had sought the death penalty for the accused, while the victims’ families had also demanded capital punishment.

However, the court awarded life imprisonment to the five adult accused.

The verdict was delivered by First Additional Sessions Judge Mohan Singh Korram.

Families May Challenge Verdict

The victims’ families have indicated that they are considering an appeal against the sentence.

Their reaction outside the court reflected the anger and grief that has continued since the three young men were killed.

The case had also drawn attention because of the circumstances surrounding the victims’ deaths and the impact on their families, including young children who lost their fathers.

With the five accused sentenced to life imprisonment, the next legal step could now come from the victims’ families if they decide to challenge the punishment before a higher court.

Police in Chhattisgarh have uncovered a new interstate ganja smuggling method in which traffickers allegedly disguised themselves as roadside clothes vendors to transport narcotics across districts and states. In separate operations carried out in Mahasamund and Dhamtari districts, police seized around 378 kilograms of ganja worth nearly ₹1.90 crore and arrested 13 accused, including a minor.

According to officials, the accused travelled on motorcycles carrying bundles of clothes to avoid suspicion. During searches, police discovered specially designed hidden iron compartments installed on the bikes where ganja packets had been concealed beneath garments. Investigators said the narcotics were allegedly being transported from Odisha and supplied to other states including Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.

Suspicion During Checking

The first major operation was conducted by Basna police in Mahasamund district after officials received information that a group of smugglers was moving towards Chhattisgarh from Odisha carrying narcotics.

Police teams immediately set up checkpoints and intensified checking on suspected routes. After some time, five motorcycles moving in a line were spotted approaching the barricade. The riders were carrying large bundles of clothes and reportedly claimed to be travelling vendors selling garments in villages and local markets. Officials said the men were shouting slogans commonly used by roadside clothes sellers in an attempt to appear genuine. However, police grew suspicious after observing their movements and behaviour during questioning.

Secret Chambers Found

During detailed inspection of the motorcycles, police discovered specially modified iron frames and hidden compartments attached beneath the clothes bundles on the rear side of the bikes. When the garments were removed, officers found large quantities of ganja concealed inside the secret boxes. Police said the smugglers had carefully designed the structure to ensure the narcotics remained hidden during routine checking and appeared like ordinary luggage used by street vendors.

In the first operation, police seized nearly 215 kilograms of ganja and arrested five accused. During interrogation, the accused allegedly admitted that the narcotics were brought from Baliguda area in Odisha and were being transported to Madhya Pradesh for supply.

Multiple Raids Conducted

Mahasamund police later carried out additional operations in separate areas based on further intelligence inputs. In another case, Basna police arrested three accused with around 23 kilograms of ganja valued at nearly ₹11.5 lakh. Similarly, Komakhan police intercepted another motorcycle near Temri check post and recovered around 9.6 kilograms of ganja from two riders.

Officials stated that in all the Mahasamund operations combined, police seized seven motorcycles, six mobile phones and five specially fabricated iron racks used for hiding narcotics. Police said the accused belonged to different districts of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and nearby border areas.

Dhamtari Operation

A similar smuggling pattern was also uncovered in Dhamtari district, where police arrested three more accused, including a minor, from the Keregaon police station area. Officials said the accused were moving in a convoy of three motorcycles while pretending to be clothes vendors travelling through rural roads. Police recovered more than 131 kilograms of ganja during the operation.

According to investigators, the accused had also installed modified iron structures on their motorcycles to conceal the narcotics under piles of clothing. During questioning, the accused reportedly confirmed that the ganja had been sourced from Odisha.

Interstate Network Suspected

Police believe the operations exposed an organised interstate narcotics network using innovative methods to avoid detection during transportation. Investigators suspect the accused were part of a larger smuggling chain operating between Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. Officials said smugglers are increasingly shifting to disguised transportation methods after stricter highway surveillance and vehicle checking measures were introduced. By using motorcycles and disguising themselves as travelling vendors, traffickers attempted to move through villages and smaller roads where checking is comparatively less intensive.

Questions Over Surveillance

The Dhamtari seizure has also raised serious questions regarding local police monitoring and border checking systems. Officials confirmed that the accused crossed multiple police station areas, including Burai, Sihawa, Nagri and Dugli, before finally being intercepted near Keregaon.

The movement of such a large quantity of ganja through several jurisdictions without interception has triggered discussions regarding intelligence coordination and routine checking systems. Residents and local observers questioned how the traffickers managed to travel across multiple checkpoints despite carrying narcotics in large quantities.

Police Investigation Continues

Police officials stated that interrogation of the arrested accused is continuing to identify other members of the network involved in transportation and distribution. Authorities are also investigating whether local support systems or supply contacts existed in Chhattisgarh and neighbouring states. Officials indicated that additional raids may be conducted based on information gathered during questioning. The operations are being seen as a significant breakthrough in tackling organised narcotics trafficking in the region.

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Car Lottery Scam: Retired BSP Employee Duped of ₹1 Crore

Car lottery scam traps retired BSP employee in Dhamtari; fraudsters extract money over three years through fake tax and investment claims

Major Fraud Reported

A car lottery scam has surfaced in Dhamtari, where a 66-year-old retired BSP employee was allegedly duped of nearly ₹1 crore by unidentified cyber fraudsters. The victim was lured with the promise of winning a car worth ₹15 lakh and was gradually coerced into transferring money over a span of three years.

Victim’s Ordeal

According to officials, the victim, identified as Kamlesh Thakur, a resident of a village under the Bhakhara police station limits, fell prey to the scam after ordering Ayurvedic medicines online in July 2022. Soon after the purchase, he began receiving calls from unknown numbers, initiating a chain of fraudulent interactions.

Lure of Lottery

Fraudsters reportedly informed the victim that he had won a car in a lottery. They claimed the vehicle would be delivered after payment of certain taxes and processing fees. When the victim hesitated, he was told that opting out of the car would still allow him to earn high returns if he deposited additional funds.

Payments in Installments

Officials said the accused first demanded a “processing fee” and later continued to extract money under various pretexts, including taxes and investment benefits. Over time, the victim transferred approximately ₹80 lakh through online and bank transactions, details of which he submitted to the police. The total estimated loss is believed to be close to ₹1 crore.

Three-Year Scam Trail

Preliminary investigation indicates that the fraud occurred between 2022 and 2025. The victim continued making payments in multiple instalments, allegedly under pressure and false assurances of returns. The scam only came to light when family members were informed, prompting a formal complaint.

Police Investigation On

Police in Dhamtari have registered a case against unknown individuals and initiated an investigation. Officials said efforts are underway to trace the accused through bank records and digital transaction trails. Authorities also suspect a wider network involved in similar online frauds.

Public Advisory Issued

Police have urged citizens to remain cautious against such schemes, especially those involving lottery winnings or high-return investments. Officials emphasised that legitimate lotteries do not demand upfront payments and advised people to verify any financial claims before transferring money.

Rising Cyber Frauds

This case highlights the growing trend of cyber frauds targeting elderly individuals across India. Similar scams involving fake lotteries, investment schemes, and online purchases have been reported in multiple regions, raising concerns over digital safety and awareness.

What Lies Ahead

Investigators are expected to coordinate with cybercrime units and financial institutions to track the suspects. Authorities have reiterated the need for stricter vigilance and public awareness campaigns to prevent such incidents. The car lottery scam remains under probe, with officials hoping to recover part of the defrauded amount.