Malkangiri: A local court in Malkangiri sentenced five individuals to life imprisonment for the brutal murder of a man over suspected witchcraft in 2020.
District and Sessions Judge Prasanna Kumar Panda on Thursday delivered the verdict after examining depositions from 10 witnesses.
The convicted individuals—Labakush Kunteri, Somanath Jal, Shukla Jal, Shankar Majhi, and Mangu Majhi—are all residents of Gunthabeda village under Motu police limits.
According to the case records, the incident occurred in February 2020, when the accused allegedly tied Manguli Kunteri and her husband Mukunda Kunteri to a tamarind tree during a village trial over accusations of sorcery. They were beaten but released the same day.
Two days later, the accused convened another community meeting and forcibly took the couple to a nearby forest. In a horrific act carried out in front of Manguli, Mukunda was doused in kerosene and set on fire, resulting in his death.
Following the incident, Manguli informed her son Manik, and the duo filed a complaint at the Motu police station. The police registered a case, arrested the accused, and presented them before the court.
Public Prosecutor Jogen Raika represented the prosecution in the case.
