‘1st Conviction’ Under New Penal Law BNS In Odisha’s Balasore: 3 Dacoits Get 7-Yr Jail Term

Balasore: In a landmark judgment, a court in Odisha’s Balasore convicted three members of a dacoity gang while pronouncing the first verdict in the district under the new penal law Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

Judge Biswajit Das of the Balasore OPID Court sentenced the three gang members to seven years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 17,000 each.

In case of non-payment, the convicts will have to serve an additional 17 months of imprisonment. The verdict was based on the testimony of seven witnesses and 30 documentary evidences, police said.

This apart, the juveniles who had been arrested along with the convicts in August, 2024, are currently facing trial before the PM JJB “Principal Magistrate, Juvenile Justice Board” in Balasore.
This marks the first conviction under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) in Balasore District.

As per the case record, six armed criminals, including three juveniles, were apprehended by a police team in August 2024 from Balighat area of Balasore. The raid, based on credible intelligence, resulted in the seizure of deadly weapons, country-made bombs, and six stolen motorcycles.

The accused confessed to planning a dacoity in Barabati using stolen motorcycles. Further investigation led to the recovery of eleven more stolen motorcycles.

In this case, Sub-Inspector (SI) Suvendu Mishra of Town Police Station was the investigating officer, while the prosecution was conducted by Special Public Prosecutor Pranab Kumar Panda on behalf of the government.