17 Indians in UAE murder case can finally return home now

Decks have finally been cleared for the release of 17 Indians, who were awarded death sentence for the killing of a Pakistani man in Sharjah, where a local court today wrapped up the case by ordering a compensation to two people injured in the incident. According to a lawyer handling the case, the court has ordered payment of Dirhams 100,000 in compensation to the two injured people who had asked for compensation. Once this payment is made, the 17 Indians who were spared the death penalty earlier after being convicted of murder, will be released. "The Civil Court of First Instance in Sharjah pronounced its judgement today after hearing all the merits of the case. Both the individuals (who were injured in the incident) will be paid a sum of Dirhams 50,000 each. "The other party has the right to appeal but we are confident that this will be the end of this matter," Bindu Sursh Chettur, the lawyer handling the case told PTI. According to her, they could have settled this compensation earlier but did not want to set a precedence of paying off anyone who raised an objection. In January 2009, the 17 Indians – 16 from Punjab – were sentenced to death for murdering a Pakistani man (Misri Nazir Khan) in a fight related to a bootlegging case. On March 28, 2010 the Sharjah Court of First Instance had pronounced the death sentence. After about 18 months and in its 17th hearing the case was about to register a closure. The death sentence was revoked after the blood money was paid. However, two other men, who were also injured in the same incident sought compensation, which dragged the case further. The Indians were sent back in September 2011 to a Sharjah jail in the wake of demands for compensation by the two injured men. PTI