Eleven persons, including a state JD(U) leader, have been sentenced to life imprisonment in an 18-year-old triple murder case by a court here.

District judge Masood Ali Siddiqui held Uttar Pradesh general secretary of Janata Dal(U) Anup Singh Patel and 10 others guilty on Friday. Besides sentencing them to life term, the judge imposed a penalty of Rs 10,000 each.

In September 1995, Dwarika Singh along with his brother Raghuveer Singh and son Anup Singh Patel and others killed Bhure, Mushir and Bhuvnesh over rivalry with one Rakshpal Singh in Wazirganj area, according to police.

Later an FIR was lodged against 14 persons. Three acused Dwarika, Raghuveer Singh and Ram Singh died during trial.

Dwarika was district president of JD(U) for several years and had contested assembly elections twice on party ticket, sources said.