The District Court Dhanusha convicted Yadav of masterminding journalist Singh's murder and awarded him life sentence. A bench of Judge Krishna Bahadur Thapa passed the verdict on Wednesday.

Journalist Singh was hacked to death on January 11, 2009, by an armed gang while she was preparing meal at her rented room at Rajaul of Janakpur Sub Metropolis. She succumbed to the fatal injuries while being taken to the Capital for treatment. Police succeeded in arresting Umesh from Gaurifanta of west Dhangadhi a year ago.

Victim’s sister-in-law Lalita Devi Singh and Nemwal Paswan, other convicts in the crime, are serving life imprisonment at the Mahottari jail and Siraha jail, respectively.