In a shocking incident, a person wrongfully convicted in a triple murder case in Mayurbhanj in 2003 was freed by a District court on Thursday after spending 19 years in prison.
The court studied the entire case, went through 32 page investigation report and testimony of 11 eyewitnesses. The court found no evidence against the accused while announcing to release him.
As per reports, Habil Sindhu, a resident of Balarampur village under Jasipur police limits of the district was accused in a sensational triple murder case in 2003. Sindhu was suspected of killing two persons and a child in his neighbourhood for alleged black magic. Police had launched a probe in the triple murder case on the suspicion of black magic.
In 2005, the District and Sessions Judge had convicted Sindhu for the murders and sentenced him to life.
Sindhu had challenged the judgement in the Orissa High Court. Considering the sensitivity of the case, the top Court had appointed an amicus curiae for probing the case.
The amicus curiae handed over the investigation reports to the District and Sessions Court. The investigation showed that Sindhu was clear after which the court directed to release him.
“I am really happy today as the court announced me 'clear' and freed me. I have spent 19 years in the jail which is indeed a long time,” said Sindhu.
Further, Sindhu emotionally added, “Though I have a family, they have rejected me. But, I will return to the village and engage myself in farming.”
"Sindhu was accused of the triple murders on the basis of the complaint. The investigation was done based on the complaints, but, the prosecution failed to produce any circumstantial evidence and extra-judicial confession for which the accused was freed by the District and Sessions Court Judge Pradeep Kumar Patnaik.,” said Asit Ota, Sindhu’s advocate.
The advocate further added that the officials investigating the case should be held responsible for contributing to the wrongful judgement.
“The officials failed to investigate the case fairly and without studying the case they filed the investigation report for which the Court convicted him in the matter earlier,” Ota said.