67 people get 2-yr RI for trespass, loot of house

Nayagarh: A court in the State has sentenced 67 people to two years' rigorous imprisonment each for trespassing into the house of a woman and damaging it 11 years ago.

Pronouncing the judgement here yesterday, district and sessions judge, Nayagarh, T K Chinnra also slapped a fine of Rs 4,000 on each convict, failing to pay which they would serve RI for an additional period of three months, public prosecutor Braja Kishore Prodhan said.

The prosecution said the accused, who belonged to Prodhanjhola village under Sarankula police station, had barged into the house of Nalini Dalai at nearby Damasahi village on July 30, 2004.

They damaged her house and looted property, including gold and other valuables.

Based on the complaint filed by Nalini, 67 villagers were arrested under various sections of IPC, including outraging the modesty of a woman, dacoity, loot, house trespass and hurling abuse and under sections 25 and 27 of the Arms Act.

The court, however, sentenced the villagers for house treaspass and causing loss to her property.

The court has allowed the convicts one month's time to appeal for bail before the appellate authority, Prodhan said.