Bhubaneswar, April 8 The District and Sessions Court in Keonjhar district of Odisha on Wednesday sentenced three persons to rigorous imprisonment for life in connection with a murder case that took place in 2022.
The convicts -- identified as Uttam Kumar Mahakud, Upendra Kumar Behera, and Nabakishore Mahakud -- have also been asked to pay a fine of Rs 10,000 each. In case of failure to pay the fine, they would have to undergo an additional imprisonment of one year, as per the court’s order.
The deceased, Mayadhar Behera, 48, and the convict trio are the residents of Kadakala village under Nayakote police station area of Keonjhar district. The deceased owned a chicken and egg shop at the Kadakala village market.
“On February 26, 2022, accused Uttam Mahakud reached the victim’s shop at around 8 p.m., where the duo engaged in a heated verbal argument over some past issues. An enraged Uttam later returned to his house and came back after about half an hour along with the other accused persons -- Nabakishore Mahakud and Upendra Behera,” said Pradeep Kumar Das, public prosecutor.
The Public Prosecutor further added that the accused Upendra, who also ran a chicken shop at the same market, had been nursing a grudge against the victim over some past enmity. The accused persons, armed with various dangerous weapons, reached the victim’s Chicken shop and started assaulting him brutally. The victim, who sustained serious injuries on different parts of his body, reportedly succumbed due to heavy bleeding on the spot.
The accused persons later left the place, leaving the victim’s body in a pool of blood. Based on the complaint lodged by the victim’s elder brother, the police registered a case and launched an investigation into the matter.
The cops arrested accused Uttam and Upendra the next day, while absconding Nabakishore was nabbed by cops from his hideout on March 22, 2022.
The court, after examining the evidence, including the statements of eyewitnesses, found the accused guilty of the offence and pronounced the judgment on Wednesday. The case was conducted by Pradip Kumar Das, who appeared on behalf of the prosecution as the Public Prosecutor (Cadre).
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