Mahanga double murder: 9 accused sentenced to life imprisonment, 1 acquitted

In a major development in the sensational Mahanga double murder case, the Salepur ADJ Court on Wednesday awarded life imprisonment to nine accused. However, one of the accused Arabinda Khuntia has been acquitted due to lack of evidence.

BJP leader Kulamani Baral, who was the block chairman of Mahanga, and his associate Dibyasingha Baral were brutally killed by unidentified miscreants on January 2, 2021. Both were killed while they were returning home on a motorbike. Later, the prime accused in the case-Prafulla Biswal was found dead under mysterious circumstances.

It is pertinent to mention here that the Mahanga double murder case triggered a political storm with BJP staging demonstration alleging involvement of former BJD Minister Pratap Jena.

The family of the deceased alleged that both Kulamani and Dibyasingha Barala were murdered on the orders of Pratap Jena.

As per the FIR, the family of the deceased had named 13 persons. Later, Police arrested 10 accused and the name of Jena was subsequently added. The case against Jena is sub-judice in Orissa High Court.

“The honourable Court convicted nine persons into life imprisonment and one person was acquitted in connection with the case. I extend my thanks to the Court for pronouncing the verdict in the sensational double murder case,” said Abinash Padhy, associate government lawyer.

“Among 10 accused, honourable Salepur ADJ Court has convicted nine and one of the accused Arabinda Khuntia has been acquitted due to lack of evidence. We will definitely move the High Court against the verdict,” said opposition lawyer Syed Abdul Hafiz.

Meanwhile, Khuntia expressed his pleasure over the verdict.

“I am very much happy with the verdict. We were trapped as accused in the political case. God’s wish will eventually prevail,” said Khuntia. 

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