Journalist murder in Odisha: 5 accused get life imprisonment

Berhampur: Almost five years after working journalist Tarun Acharya was brutally murdered in Ganjam, five accused were today sentenced to life imprisonment by the Khallikhote Additional District Judge Court in connection with the case.

The 34-year-old journalist, Tarun Acharya, who was working with a private Odia TV channel, was murdered in Khallikote of Ganjam district on May 28, 2014 night while he was returning home from work.

All the five accused- Santosh Moharana, Suresh Sahu, Ramesh Reddy, Shyam Prusty and Shivaram Nayak have been awarded life imprisonment.

As the incident had happened close to Khallikote Police Station, it had led to public outcry in the State. At the time of the incident, Acharya was survived by his wife and eight-month-old daughter.

As per reports, Shyam Prusty, the owner of a cashew processing unit along with one of his associate Ramesh Reddy had hired contract killers to eliminate Acharya after he had published a report regarding child labourers being engaged at the former’s plant. One of the accused, Nrusingha Panda is still absconding.

“Truth has triumphed and it is a victory for the working journalists. Without any reason, cashew factory owner Shyam Prusty hired supari killers and killed my brother. One accused Nrusingha Panda is still absconding,” said deceased Acharya’s brother.