Sundargarh: The Additional District and Sessions Judge in Sundargarh has sentenced two persons, Purushottam Pradhan (55) and Babulal Pradhan (43), to life imprisonment for the murder of a young man, Amitabh Singh, in a violent assault in Lemlema village.
The court also imposed a fine of ₹10,000 on each convict, with an additional six months of imprisonment in case of non-payment. Three other accused—Krishna Pradhan, Ajay Pradhan, and Shatrughna Pradhan—were acquitted due to lack of evidence.
The incident occurred on January 21, 2023, when Amitabh Singh, a resident of Rajbati area in Sundargarh town, visited Lemlema village with friends around 3 PM. A confrontation arose when some individuals, including Babulal Pradhan, verbally abused Amitabh and threatened his life. After Babulal returned home, Amitabh followed to question the threats. Enraged, Babulal attacked Amitabh with an iron rod, leading to a scuffle. Subsequently, a group of assailants dragged Amitabh to a nearby forest, where they beat him mercilessly.
Informed by Amitabh’s friends, his family rushed to the forest and found him in critical condition. He was taken to a hospital in Rourkela, where he succumbed to his injuries.
Amitabh’s brother, Bikash Kumar Singh, filed a complaint at the Sundargarh Sadar police station, prompting the arrest of Purushottam, Babulal, Krishna, Ajay, and Shatrughna Pradhan. The police registered a case and presented the accused in court.
Following a trial, the judge relied on police reports, witness testimonies, and evidence to convict Purushottam and Babulal. The case was prosecuted by Assistant Public Prosecutor Prashant Kumar Patel.
The verdict brings closure to a case that highlighted the need for swift justice in violent crimes, reinforcing accountability for such acts in Sundargarh.
