A court in Jammu and Kashmir [Images] on Tuesday sentenced a constable of the Central Reserve Police Force to life imprisonment for killing two personnel of the force, including his platoon commander six years ago.

Budgam District and Sessions Judge Hasnain Masoodi sentenced Constable Balbir Singh of the 87 battalion CRPF to life imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 5,000 for killing his platoon commander Harinder Thakur and Constable T Naidu inside the residence of Chief Minister Ghulam [Images] Nabi Azad at Hyderpora on the outskirts of the city in 2001.

Azad was then the Union minister.

If Singh fails to pay the fine, he will have to undergo additional three months imprisonment.

A resident of Gurdaspur area of Punjab, Singh had a tiff with the mess commander on January 8, 2001 and opened fire killing his platoon commander and a constable.

He was chargesheeted on March 5, 2001.

Singh, who was present in court, was sent to Central Jail.

The judge referred the case to the Jammu and Kashmir hgh court for confirmation.