Phoolan Devi murder case: Sher Singh Rana convicted

Phoolan Devi was shot dead in 2001. Reuters[/caption]According to TV reports, the sentencing pronouncing the quantum of punishment is likely to take place on 12 August.Rana was convicted for murder, attempt to murder and common intention under Section 302 and 307 of the Indian Penal Code. However, charges of perjury against him were dropped by the court.The court recorded testimonies of 171 witnesses in the case. Rana's lawyer said that they could challenge the court's verdict and appeal to a higher court.Sher Singh Rana murdered Phoolan Devi in 2001 to avenge the 1981 Behmai massacre in which Phoolan Devi and her gang had killed 20 people, including 17 who belonged to the Thakur community in Behmai.One of the accused in the Phoolan Devi murder case had died of a heart attack last year in Tihar jail. In 2004, Rana escaped Tihar jail, only to be caught again in 2009 in Kolkata.Phoolan Devi was a bandit who later on became a Member of Parliament from the Samajwadi Party.