The Additional District Judge of Rayagada, Alpona Swain, on Saturday sentenced three accused — Ashok Gouda, Bhagirathi Gouda, and Bikram Gouda — to life imprisonment with hard labour in a 2023 murder case.
The court also imposed a fine of Rs 5,000 on each convict. In case of non-payment, they will undergo an additional six months’ imprisonment.
The judgment was delivered after examining the depositions of 23 witnesses. The convicts were tried under Sections 302/34 of the IPC and provisions of the SC & ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
On June 9, 2023, the victim, Gajendra Nayak of Kosanadora village under Kashipur block, had gone to oversee land levelling work being carried out by a JCB operator and his team. At that time, the accused trio — Bhagirathi, Ashok, and Bikram Gouda — confronted him, demanding to identify their land boundary. Soon after, they attacked him with axes (tangias), inflicting fatal injuries on his legs and back.
Though locals rushed the severely injured Gajendra to Kashipur Community Health Centre, doctors declared him dead. His son, Mihir Kumar Nayak, later lodged an FIR at Kashipur Police Station.
Police arrested the accused on June 12, 2023, and seized three axes used in the crime. The case was prosecuted by Additional Public Prosecutor Ramprasad Patra.
