New Delhi, Oct 31 (IANS): A court here Monday awarded life sentences to three of the 15 people convicted for burning alive a 70-year-old man and his physically challenged daughter in the arson attack on a Dalit settlement at the Mirchpur village in Haryana's Hisar district last year.

Pronouncing the life term to three convicts, Additional Sessions Judge Kamini Lau handed down five-year imprisonment to five other convicts, along with a fine of Rs.20,000 each.

The court also imposed a fine of Rs.20,000 each on the three convicts who were awarded life sentences. The money will be given to the family of the victims as compensation.

Judge Lau also let out seven convicts on probation of one year - during which their behaviour would be observed by the court.

The Supreme Court had earlier directed that the case be transferred to a Delhi court to ensure a free and fair trial.

Tarachand, 70, and his 18-year-old physically challenged daughter Suman were killed in the April 21 arson attack on their house and a row of other Dalit houses in Mirchpur village, about 300 km from Chandigarh.

A total of 15 accused, belonging to the Jat community, were tried and held guilty in the case.

The court earlier acquitted 82 out of 97 accused in the case, saying the allegations levelled against them were not proved beyond reasonable doubt.

The attack followed a dispute between members of the Jat and Dalit communities of the village.