Cuttack: In a significant verdict, the Orissa High Court commuted the death sentence of nine convicts undergoing imprisonment for the murder of three members of a family suspecting that they practised witchcraft.
In October 2021, the Rayagada District and Sessions Court had pronounced death sentence to Degunu Sabara, Dasantu Sabara, Dalasa Sabara, Ajanta Sabara, Podantu Sabara, Iru Sabara, Lakia Sabara, Bubuna Sabara, and Maliku Sabara after holding them guilty of murdering Asina Sabara, his wife Ambai, and their daughter Asimani. The convicts had appealed the Orissa High Court challenging the verdict of the lower court.
According to reports, the convicts forcibly dragged out Asina Sabara, Ambai Sabara, and Asimani Sabara from their house in Kitum village under Putasingh police limits in Rayagada district on September 9, 2016. Later, the three were brutally assaulted in a cowshed. As a result Asina, Ambai and Asimani fell unconscious. Subsequently, the attackers injected pesticides into their eyes and private parts and buried them alive.
On being informed about the horrific incident by the locals, the police sprung into action to nab the guilty. Apprehending police action, the nine convicts exhumed the three bodies and burnt them to obliterate evidence.
Now, the convicts will serve life sentence.
