In a landmark verdict, the District and Sessions Court in Dhenkanal, Odisha, has sentenced eight individuals to life imprisonment for the brutal murder of Salman Rout amid political rivalry during the 2017 Gram Panchayat elections. The case stemmed from a violent clash over election posters.
The incident occurred on the evening of February 4, 2017, in Godi Sahi, Tarava Gram Panchayat under Sadar Police Station in Dhenkanal district.
According to the complaint filed by Bikram Keshari Mallick, a group including the victim was chatting near a local shop when the accused—led by Chikun Biswal and others—attempted to paste posters on a wall. When protested, the accused assaulted the group. Salman Rout intervened and was shot in the chest, succumbing to his injuries at the District Headquarters Hospital (DHH) in Dhenkanal. Mallick also sustained injuries in the attack.
The murder was the result of escalating tensions between supporters of rival political parties during the campaigning phase for the Tarava GP elections in February 2017. Initially handled by the district police, the investigation was transferred to the CID Crime Branch within a week. During the probe, multiple eyewitnesses were examined, and two firearms—including the one used in the crime—were seized. A total of 15 accused were charge-sheeted under sections 302 (murder), 307 (attempt to murder), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 294 (obscene acts), 506 (criminal intimidation), 120-B (criminal conspiracy), and 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), along with sections 25 and 27 of the Arms Act.
After a prolonged trial, the judgment was delivered on October 28, 2025, by the learned District and Sessions Judge, Dhenkanal. Eight accused were convicted under sections 302, 323, and 34 of the IPC: Byomakesh Biswal @ Muka, Trayambaka Biswal @ Faka, Mrutyunjaya Biswal @ Raka, Samarendra Biswal @ Akhi, Kulamani Behera, Debendra Swain @ Kunu, Hrudananda Biswal @ Tulu, and Byomakesh Biswal.
On October 31, 2025, the quantum of punishment was announced. All eight convicts received life imprisonment along with a fine of Rs 20,000 each for the murder charge, with an additional six months of rigorous imprisonment in default of payment. They were also sentenced to one year of rigorous imprisonment for voluntarily causing hurt. Additionally, convict Byomakesh Biswal was handed three years of rigorous imprisonment and a Rs 10,000 fine under section 25 of the Arms Act, and five years of rigorous imprisonment with a Rs 20,000 fine under section 27 of the Arms Act.
The case was investigated by Sarbeswar Sahoo, then Additional Superintendent of Police, CID Crime Branch (now retired), and Ganesh Ch. Behera, now Deputy Superintendent of Police, Dhenkanal. The prosecution was conducted by Sitakanta Dash, Public Prosecutor, Dhenkanal.
