Berhampur: A court in Berhampur today awarded life imprisonment to 19 persons in connection with the murder of a resident of Phulata village of Ganjam district in 2007. The Additional District Judge-I Sanjay Kumar Sahu pronounced the quantum of punishment.
The case pertained to the murder of Maheswar Sasmal of Phulata village during a group clash around 12 years back. Reportedly, of the 19 convicts, one had died during the trial period of the case.
"His brother Babula Sasmal had filed a case. All the convicts have been given life imprisonment under section 302," government lawyer Anil Sahu said.
Speaking on the judgement, defence lawyer Shishir Padhi said, "In my 46 years of career, I have never seen such a worst judgement. We will challenge the decision before a higher court."
Though experts consider the court’s verdict as historical with 19 persons being convicted, the counsels of the convicts said they will move a higher court against the judgement given by the ADJ-1 court.
Meanwhile, family members of Sasmal hailed the verdict and said justice has been delivered to them. “We are happy with the court’s verdict. Definitely justice has been meted out,” said a family member of Sasmal on condition of anonymity.