12 sentenced to life for murder in Orissa

Rourkela, Oct 19: A lower court has convicted 12 members of a criminal gang, including the gang leader, and sentenced them to life imprisonment in kidnap and murder cases.

ADJ, Rourkela, S C Mohapatra yesterday convicted 12 members of the Rajgangpur-based Rajan Sanyasi gang after finding them guilty of kidnapping and murder of their rivals Manoj Samal and Debendra Kumar in January 2006.

The convicted also included Kunda and Brishav, two brothers of gang leader Rajan Sanyasi.

The court, while delivering its judgement, also imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 on each of the convicts.

According to the prosecution, the gang committed the crime due to old enmity. The bodies of Manoj and Debendra were recovered from the Kanasbahal dam on January 19, 2006. Police arrested eight accused two days after the recovery of the bodies.

However, the gang leader was arrested four months later in May 2006 from Rajgangpur town. The then IIC of Rajgangpur was placed under suspension for allegedly sheltering the gang.

UNI