Bhubaneswar, September 17:A court in Paralakhemundi has sentenced 12 persons to life imprisonment for the 2021 murder of a man and his son in Gajapati district over allegations of practising witchcraft.

The Additional Sessions Judge convicted all 12 under Sections 302/34 of the IPC and imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 on each.

According to the prosecution, a village meeting was held on June 12, 2021, at Muthaguda under Adava police station of Gajapati district, where Luka Dalabehera was accused of killing villagers through witchcraft. Later, Luka and his son Anuka were taken to a field near Kusumsahi village and murdered. Anuka's throat was slit.

Following a complaint by Ludia Gamango, daughter and sister of the deceased, police registered a case and filed a chargesheet against 12 accused persons of said village.

During the trial, the prosecution examined 23 witnesses. The court held that the deaths were homicidal and rejected the defence plea of false implication.

The court directed that the period of detention already undergone—5 years, 3 months and 2 days—be set off against the sentences.