17 get lifer for burning couple to death over witchcraft suspicion in Odisha 

In a major judgment, a court on Thursday sentenced 17 persons to life imprisonment after they were convicted for burning a couple to death over witchcraft suspicion in Jajpur. The judge of the civil and criminal court at Jajpur Road pronounced the verdict. 

As per reports, the incident had taken place at Nimapali (Surisahi) under Kalinganagar Police limits on July 20, 2020. Some residents used to suspect that Shaila Balmuj and his wife Sambhari Balmuj were practicing sorcery. Their suspicion grew after the death of a person in the village.

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A group of 17 people first set the house of the couple ablaze, made a bonfire and threw the couple into it. The couple was charred to death.

Following a complaint, police had arrested 17 people.  

Government counsel, Rajat Rout said, “All the accused were convicted. The accused had suspected that the couple hexed a person to death. Then, they set the house of the couple afire before charring the two to death by making a bonfire before the eyes of their children.”