Keonjhar: A district court on Wednesday sentenced three men to life imprisonment and fined them Rs 10,000 each for the murder of a chicken shop owner in Nayakot police limits of Keonjhar district. The court also ordered an additional one-year jail term in case of default in fine payment.The convicts, Uttam Kumar Mahakud, Upendra Behera and Nabakishore Mahakud killed Mayadhar Behera due to previous enmity.According to public prosecutor Pradip Kumar Das, the deceased owned a chicken shop at Kadakala village bazaar. On the evening of Feb 26, 2022, Mayadhar was returning home after closing his shop when the three accused allegedly intercepted and attacked him. Uttam Mahakud struck him on the head with an iron rod, while Upendra Behera assaulted him with a bhujali. Nabakishore Mahakud allegedly beat him up with a lathi.Mayadhar died on the spot due to profuse bleeding. The accused fled before local residents reached the scene. Later that night, the victim’s brother, Dayanidhi Behera, lodged a complaint at Nayakot police station. Police arrested the three accused, who had since been lodged in jail as undertrial prisoners.Based on evidence, statements of 15 witnesses and police investigation report, the court held the trio guilty of conspiring and committing murder as part of a group, the prosecutor said.
