A local court in Odisha’s Keonjhar district has sentenced eight individuals to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment for their involvement in the fatal assault of a 58-year-old woman in the Ramachandrapur area in 2023. The convicts have also been fined Rs 10,000 each, with a three-month jail term as an alternative.
The incident occurred on March 22, 2023, when the victim, Mali Jena, was attacked by the accused in the presence of a large group carrying weapons. Despite attempts by neighbors to intervene, Jena sustained severe injuries and was initially treated at a local hospital before being transferred to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack, where she later passed away on March 29, 2023.
Allegedly, the assault stemmed from political tensions between supporters of the local sarpanch and a rival candidate, with Jena leading opposition against illegal sand transportation that affected the accused financially. This conflict led to the tragic outcome on March 29, 2023.
