Court Sentences Two To Rigorous Life Imprisonment For Murder Of Shop Owner In Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar: A court has sentenced two persons to rigorous life imprisonment for murder of a betel shop owner in Bhubaneswar three years back.

As per the case, the victim, Soumya Ranjan Kunda was running his betel shop situated between Metro building and Kalyan Jewellers at Vani Vihar square in the city. His brother, Sagar Kumar Kunda, was running his hotel nearby.

On the intervening night of August 30 and 31, 2022, the two convicts, Ashok Das alias Kabu and Manoj Das alias Papuni came to Soumya’s shop, who was sleeping inside his shop, and had an altercation with him. The duo brutally assaulted Soumya causing grave injuries to him and fled.

On hearing the shouting, Sagar rushed to the spot to find his brother bleeding profusely and the assailants had fled. He along with the locals rushed Soumya, who had multiple cut injuries on his body, to the Capital Hospital.

Later, Soumya was shifted to the AIIMS, Bhubaneswar as his condition deteriorated. But he succumbed in the hospital in the morning.

After Sagar filed a complaint on the incident at Saheed Nagar police station. Following investigation, the police arrested Kabu and Papuni and forwarded them to the court.

After hearing the case, statements of 18 witnesses and verifying the evidences, the District and Sessions Judge Court, Khurda convicted Kabu and Papuni and sentenced them to rigorous life imprisonment.

The court also imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 on each of the convict and ordered that in case of default in payment of fine, they have to undergo rigorous imprisonment for one more year.