Nuapada: A court in Odisha's Nuapada district today sentenced a man to life imprisonment in a human sacrifice case dating back to 2019. 

The verdict was pronounced by Additional District and Sessions judge Sunil Kumar Das after trial and examination of evidence. 

The accused, Chintamani Majhi, a resident of Jadamunda village within Komna police limits of the district, was convicted of sacrificing his nephew as part of a black magic ritual for a bountiful harvest. 

On August 8, 2019, Chintamani had beckoned his minor nephew Dhansingh Majhi to their agricultural field on the pretext of felling a tree. Prior to that, he had performed ceremonial magic and readied the plot for human sacrifice as part of the ritual for a good crop yield. 

When Dhansingh started chopping down the tree, Chintamani came from behind and hacked him with a sharp weapon, beheading the latter on the spot. 

Later, police had arrested him and registered a case. 

Public prosecutor Kartikeswar Maharana said the judgement was pronounced after trial and examination of evidence.