The Gajapati District and Sessions Court here on Friday exonerated three suspected Maoists in the murder case of two village guards for lack of evidence. The Adaba police had registered a case against the trio in connection with the murder of two village guards on May 13. 2010 under the Adaba police station.
District and Sessions Judge Durga Shankar Mishra, who was hearing the case released suspected Maoists Nikita Majhi, Sarat Majhi and Siman Majhi. On behalf of the accused, lawyer Swarup Kumar Das appeared in the case.
Similarly, in connection with another case of October 10, 2010, Maoist leader Dona Keshab Rao alias Azad was produced in the Parlakhemundi SDJM Court. Azad was brought to the court here from the Jharpada Special Jail in Bhubaneswar amid tight security cover. In 2010, in an encounter between the police and Maoists in Ambajhari jungle, three policemen were killed.
The Gajapati police had lodged a case against Azad in this connection. However, when produced in court, the rebel leader claimed his name is Dona Keshab Rao and not Azad. On behalf of Azad, Swarup Kumar Pal and on behalf of the prosecution VSN Raju appeared in the case.