A man in Odisha’s Balasore district has been sentenced to death for killing his second wife in an acid attack. Chandan Kumar Rana, a resident of Santaragadia village, was convicted for the crime. Rana had concealed his first marriage and lured the victim, Banita Singh, into a relationship without informing her about his existing marital status.
Special Public Prosecutor Sulalit Kar revealed that Rana married Banita in a temple in Balasore district in December 2022. Upon learning about Rana’s previous marriage, Banita filed a complaint in January 2023, accusing him of cheating. Following police intervention, an agreement was reached between the couple to part ways and return to their respective parental homes.
Despite this, Rana, upon hearing about Banita’s upcoming marriage to another man, attacked her with acid in February 2023. The victim, along with her sister and two children, sustained severe burn injuries and were hospitalized. Tragically, Banita succumbed to her injuries while undergoing treatment at SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack.
Based on the victim’s dying declaration, witness statements, and evidence, the court convicted Rana of the crime and sentenced him to death, deeming it a rarest of crimes.
