Berhampur: The Ganjam District and Sessions Court on Monday sentenced five individuals to life imprisonment in connection with the 2010 murder of Dhira Samal in Berhampur.
The convicted individuals—Sanyasi Rout, Kalia Sethi, P. Krushna Chandra Patra, Pinku Patra, and Sanjay Pradhan—were found guilty of murder based on the statements of 24 witnesses, including eyewitness Santosh Tripathi, and corroborating evidence, such as the sword used in the crime. The court also sentenced them to an additional three years of imprisonment under the Arms Act.
The incident occurred on July 22, 2010, at Sriram Nagar Chhak under the Bada Bazar police limits of Berhampur city. According to eyewitness Tripathi, the five convicted individuals were seen hacking Dhira Samal with swords.
Meanwhile, the court acquitted three others—Mangulu Behera, Rinku Patra, and Rangini Santa alias Santosh Patra—due to a lack of evidence against them.
