3 get lifer for murdering couple on suspicion of witchcraft in Odisha

Keonjhar: Additional District Judge (ADJ) of Keonjhar today sentenced three persons to life imprisonment in connection with the murder of a couple on suspicion of practising witchcraft back in 2003.

Hearing the case via video conferencing, the ADJ convicted three of the 12 accused under Section 302 and 450 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and awarded life imprisonment to them. They were also fine an amount of Rs 15,000. The three convicts are Basant Dehury, Goutam Penthei and  Mitu Mallick.

However, the Judge acquitted nine other accused in this case for want of evidence, informed Keonjhar Additional Public Prosecutor  Prafulla Kumar Patra.

On October 10, 2014, one Rajendra Dehury and his wife Jema were beheaded by miscreants at Saharpur village under Nayakote police limits in the district. During investigation, police had registered case against nine persons, including a woman.