A Keonjhar court on Thursday convicted three persons under the Odisha Prevention of Witchcraft Act in connection with the brutal murder of a couple and gangrape of their minor daughter in the district.
This is the first conviction under the Act in the State.
The Keonjhar District and Sessions Judge Court awarded life sentence to the three accused. Besides, two years’ imprisonment under Section 302 (Attempt to murder), 20-year imprisonment under Section 376 (rape), seven years’ imprisonment under the SC and ST Prevention of Atrocities Act and two years’ jail term under Section 324 of IPC with fine.
Two other accused were acquitted due to lack of evidence.
“The Special District and Sessions Judge convicted the three accused under Sections 302, 376, 324 of IPC with imposition of fine after examining the witnesses in the case,” said Crime Branch counsel Ashwini Patnaik.
It may be recalled that the accused allegedly murdered the couple at Kolahundula village under the Joda police station in the district, suspecting them of practising black magic. After committing the heinous crime, the accused had gangraped the couple’s minor daughter.
The horrific incident had occurred in October 2014.