Rayagada: Additional District & Sessions Court of Rayagada sentenced one Rashik alias Prakash Pradhani to rigorous life imprisonment on Saturday for murder over unrequited love.
The 50-year-old Rashik from Munda village was convicted by the Court for the brutal killing of Reema Majhi, a labourer, under Sections 309, 302, and 324 of the Indian Penal Code, with an additional fine of Rs 50,000. Upon failure to pay the fine will result in an extra year of rigorous imprisonment, the court ruled in the sentencing.
The Court pronounced the verdict after examining evidence, including testimonies from 23 witnesses.
As per case details, the incident took place on September 3, 2022, in Ushapada village, under Tikiri police station limits in Rayagada district’s Kashipur block.
Reema Majhi and her friend Jampani Majhi were working as labourers on Karmakar Mahapatra’s land when, during a lunch break, Rashik approached and slit Reema’s throat with a sharp knife.
When Jampani tried to intervene, Rashik injured her hand, forcing her to flee. He then attacked Reema again, fatally slashing her throat. Reema’s father, Durjya Majhi from Sanamatikana village, filed a complaint at Tikiri police station stating that Rashik had been harassing Reema with unwanted romantic advances. After Reema reported the harassment, a village meeting was held, and Rashik was warned to stop, but, angered by the rejection and intervention, he committed the crime.
Sub-Inspector Manoj Kumar Jena, with assistance from a scientific investigation team, conducted a thorough probe, leading to Rashik’s arrest.
