Court Sentences Man & His Mother To Life Imprisonment For Dowry Death In Odisha’s Khurda

Khurda: The Additional District and Sessions Court in Odisha’s Khurda on Saturday sentenced a man and his mother to life imprisonment for murder of the man’s wife and child.

As per the case, Tapan Pradhan of Mormorsingh village under Nirakarpur police station in the district had married Mamina Jena of Belpada in Jatni in 2010. At the time of marriage, Mamina’s family had given jewellery and household articles besides Rs 40,000 in cash as dowry.

Mamina had given birth to a son in 2012. But soon after, Tapan and his family started torturing Mamina demanding more dowry from her family. As Mamina informed her family about the demand, her father Narendra Jena came to her in-law’s house and sorted the matter.

On July 24, 2015, Mamina called up her younger sister on phone to tell that her in-laws were demanding Rs 12,000. They had also threatened to kill her and her son Dipun if the demand is not met, Mamina told her sister.

But Tapan’s brother Tarun Pradhan went to Belpada next day and told Mamina’s parents that she and Dipun had left the house without informing them since previous night. While Mamina’s family members were searching for her in all possible places, they were informed that Mamina and Dipun had been found hanging from a tree in a forest near Mormorsingh.

Narendra filed a complaint at Nirakarpur police station alleging that Tapan’s family had killed Mamina and Dipun for dowry. The police registered a dowry case and started investigation. On finding evidence against Tapan, Tarun and their mother Pramila Pradhan, the police arrested them.

After hearing the witnesses and verifying the evidences, Additional District and Sessions Judge Ajay Kumar Pradhan convicted Tapan and Pramila under Sections 301, 304 (B), 201, 498 (B) of IPC and sentenced them to life imprisonment. Tarun is absconding since the day of murder.