Odisha Court Sentences Nine to Life for BJP Workers' Murder

A court in Odisha's Cuttack district sentenced nine people to life imprisonment for the murders of two elderly BJP workers in 2021. One accused was acquitted due to lack of evidence. The incident also implicated a state law minister, whose case was moved to a special court.

In a significant ruling on Wednesday, a court in Cuttack district, Odisha, sentenced nine individuals to life imprisonment for the 2021 murders of two elderly BJP workers. The Additional District Judge at Salepur presided over the judgement, acquitting one accused due to insufficient evidence.

The victims, 75-year-old Kulamani Baral and 82-year-old Dibyasingh Baral, were brutally hacked to death in Mahanga, Cuttack. A total of 10 people were initially arrested in connection with the case, with one suspect later dying in a road accident.

FIR filed by Kulamani's son also named Pratap Jena, the state law minister and local BJD legislator. The Salepur court confirmed the validity of the murder charge against Jena. Subsequently, his case was transferred to a Bhubaneswar Special Court, established to prosecute legislators and MPs per a Supreme Court directive.

Addressing the media, the public prosecutor stated that the nine convicted were charged under Sections 302 and 120-B of the IPC and received life sentences accordingly.

(With inputs from agencies.)