Balangir: The District and Sessions Judge Court in Balangir on Wednesday sentenced as many as 18 persons to life imprisonment in a murder case.
The quantum of punishment was pronounced by the court on basis of the statements of 13 witnesses.
On July 5, 2011, Chapandhari Jal, a resident of Salatarapali under Sarar police station limits here, was beaten to death by 19 people over past enmity.
The accused later tried to pass it off as a case of suicide.
Hearing the case, the court awarded life imprisonment of 18 as one among them had died.