Orissa HC acquits 18 life convicts on benefit of doubt after 21 years

The Orissa High Court has acquitted 18 persons who were sentenced to life imprisonment in connection with alleged murder of a person over sorcery in Kandhamal district in 1998.  

A sessions court in Kandhamal had sentenced all the accused to imprisonment for life under Section 302 after convicting them of murdering one Chandra Sekhar Pradhan.

Pradhan, a resident of Duguripari under G. Udayagiri police limits, was dragged out of his house and assaulted by a mob who accused him of killing one Pradeep Mallik be means of sorcery on November 11, 1998.  

Pradhan was allegedly burnt alive by around 15 to 20 persons at a place where Mallick was cremated. However, the body of the deceased was never recovered and therefore, there was no medical evidence as such.

On an analysis of the evidence, the trial court found that the pyre of Mallick which had not completely extinguished was again ignited with the help of kerosene oil and wood and Pradhan was burnt alive in the same blaze. 

On April 19, 2001, the trial court held all the accused guilt and sentenced them to life imprisonment. However, all the 18 persons had challenged the trial court verdict. 

Allowing the appeals, a division bench comprising Chief Justice S Muralidhar and Justice RK Pattanaik said, “There is no evidence to link each of the appellants to the offence or even indicate the precise role played by each of them. They are entitled to the benefit of doubt. They are all accordingly acquitted.”