Paralakhemundi: A court in Gajapati district has sentenced a 62-year-old man to life imprisonment for stabbing his wife to death during an argument over their daughter’s treatment in 2022.
Gajapati District and Sessions Judge Jagadish Prasad Mohanty on Monday convicted Ilam Dalabehera of Kudringada village under Serang police station after considering the evidence, witness testimonies and arguments presented by both sides. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 15,000 on him, with an additional six months’ imprisonment in case of non-payment.
According to the prosecution, the incident took place around 9 am on October 23, 2022, when Ilam’s 20-year-old daughter Jinanti was unwell. His wife, Budhi Dalabehera, asked him to take their daughter to a nearby hospital, following which an argument broke out between the couple.
Ilam allegedly assaulted his wife and dragged her from the house towards the road before stabbing her in the neck with a knife. Budhi suffered severe bleeding and died at the spot.
Following the incident, Ilam allegedly fled the area. Jinanti and her brother Akash later brought their mother’s body to the verandah of their house. Based on Jinanti’s complaint, Serang police registered a case under FIR No. 85/22.
Then Inspector Ashok Kumar Hansda investigated the case and produced the accused before the court.
The prosecution examined 12 witnesses and submitted 25 documents as evidence during the trial. Special Public Prosecutor Rajesh Kumar Mishra conducted the case on behalf of the government, assisted by Additional Public Prosecutor Mandala Lokanadam.
