odisha news: Orissa High Court commutes death sentences to life imprisonment in sorcery murder case

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odisha news: Bhubaneswar, (Reporterspen), Jan 15: In a landmark ruling, the Orissa High Court has commuted the death sentences of nine individuals to life imprisonment in a harrowing case involving the murder of three family members, accused of practicing sorcery.

In October 2021, the District and Sessions Court in Rayagada convicted Degunu Sabara, Dasantu Sabara, Dalasa Sabara, Ajanta Sabara, Podantu Sabara, Iru Sabara, Lakia Sabara, Bubuna Sabara, and Maliku Sabara for the brutal killings of Asina Sabara, his wife Ambai, and their daughter Asimani. Following their conviction, the nine appealed the death penalty, leading to a review by the High Court.

The tragic events unfolded in Kitum village in 2016 when the accused, fueled by superstitions, blamed the family for various local ailments, alleging they practiced sorcery. On September 9, 2016, the nine men forcibly dragged the family from their home, assaulting them brutally in a cowshed. The victims lost consciousness after suffering severe injuries, and the attackers proceeded to inject pesticides into their eyes and private parts before burying them alive.

When alerted by locals, the police initiated a swift investigation. To evade justice, the convicts exhumed the bodies and burned them to destroy evidence.


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