Astaranga murder case: Three sentenced to life

Puri: The Court of Additional District & Session’s Judge in Nimapada of Puri district sentenced three persons to life imprisonment in connection with the brutal murder of four members of a family under Astaranga Police limits in September 2015. The court had convicted the three accused on February 6 and pronounced the quantum of sentence today.

According to sources, the court sentenced main accused Himadri Das alias Rahim Khan, his wife Ayesha Begum and Fakira Mallick to life imprisonment.

Notably, Dinabandhu Mallick, a retired district inspector of schools, his wife Nirmala, 12-year-old daughter Saswatri and four-year-old daughter Pranati were found dead with their throats slit on September 21, 2015 night at their home in Dinadiyan Nagar village under Astaranga Police limits. After the investigation of the case was handed over to Crime Branch by CM Naveen Patnaik, the agency had arrested the three accused.

The main accused Rahim Khan came in contact with the deceased Dinabandhu through Fakira Mallick. With the intention to grab property of the deceased, Rahim and his wife Ayesha, murdered Dinabandhu and his family members.