Jharsuguda: A local court in Jharsuguda on Friday sentenced five persons to life imprisonment for their role in the death of a college student, Sanyukta Jayapuria, in a tragic incident that occurred on March 2, 2017, in Bijapali village under Rengali police station.
The case, which sparked widespread outrage across Odisha, involved a ritualistic “Shiva Tandav” dance performed on the ailing student under the guise of treatment, leading to her death at the scene.
The Additional District Judge (ADJ) court in Jharsuguda, after a thorough hearing and examination of evidence, convicted five accused—Soudamini Jayapuria (22), Santoshini Jayapuria (23), Naveen Bhoi (22), Sahadev Jayapuria (19), and Akshay Jayapuria (19)—for their involvement in the incident. The court acquitted the student’s parents, finding them not guilty.
The incident drew significant attention in 2017 when it was reported that Sanyukta, who was unwell, was subjected to the ritual by the accused.
Following a probe by the Crime Branch, the two women who performed the dance, along with three accomplices and the student’s parents, were arrested. The investigation revealed the ritual as the cause of the student’s death, prompting statewide condemnation.
The sentencing underscores the judiciary’s stance against superstitious practices that endanger lives.
