BHUBANESWAR: A local court in Odisha's Keonjhar district, on Thursday, sentenced eight persons to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment (RI) in connection with a case involving the fatal assault of a 58-year-old woman in Ramachandrapur area of the district, which led to her death while undergoing treatment in 2023.
The convicts have also been asked to pay a fine of Rs 10, 000 each, failing which they will have to undergo a further jail term of three months.
"On March 22, 2023, the deceased, Mali Jena, was sitting on the verandah outside her house when the accused persons, along with 100 to 150 others carrying dangerous weapons, reached the spot. Upon seeing them, a frightened Jena immediately went inside her house. Two of the accused dragged her outside and while all the accused started assaulting her mercilessly. Hearing her cries, neighbours rushed to her rescue, following which the accused fled from the spot, " Additional Public Prosecutor Soumitri Kumar Rout said.