Additional District Judge (ADJ) Kirti Chandra Barik on Wednesday, while adjudging a murder case sentenced rigorous life imprisonment to three persons along with a fine of Rs 30,000 on each. The convicts were Ajay Mallick, Sanjay Mallick and Dipti Ranjan Ojha of Telangabasanta village under Pattamundai police station.
On last June 1, 2008, they had hijacked an iron –laden truck coming from Kasia to Paradip port and kicked its driver. The trio first came in the truck near Ghatagaon by introducing themselves as truck drivers. Then they took liquor near Balichandrapur chowk with driver Pankaj alias Jatia Nayak, resident of Sanamusinabila village under Ghatagaon police station. When Pankaj started dozing, the trio strangulated him to death. later, they threw the body near Panchupandav chowk. They forcibly took helper Suresh Nayak with them by threatening him not to disclose the matter, else they would kill him.
On June 4 the same year, Kendrapada police arrested the three accused and seized the hijacked truck at Bharigada –Gadagadighat road under Rajkanika police station while the hijackers were taking the truck to Bhadrak to sell it at Kolkota. Police had also rescued helper Suresh.