Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Nov 10:

In a first, a local court in the state today convicted three persons under Odisha Prevention of Witchcraft Act in connection with the sensational murder of a couple and gangrape of their minor daughter.

jail

Deonjhar District and Sessions Judge Court awarded life sentence to three accused. Besides, two years imprisonment under section 302 (attempt to murder), 20-years imprisonment under section 376 (rape), seven years imprisonment under SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities Act), two years jail term under 324 of IPC with fine.

Two others were acquitted due to want of evidence.

“Special District and Sessions Judge convicted three accused under section 302, 376, 324 of IPC with imposition of fine after examining the witnesses in the case,” said Ashwini Patnaik, Crime Branch counsel said.

It may be recalled that the accused allegedly murdered a couple in Kolahundula village under Joda police limits in the district suspecting them of practicing sorcery. After committing the heinous crime, the accused had then gangraped their minor daughter. The spine-chilling incident had taken place in October, 2014.