A family dispute took a tragic turn when it ended in the brutal murder of an elder brother by his younger sibling. In a significant judgment delivered on Friday, the Additional District and Sessions Judge (ADJ) of Kantabanji in Balangir district sentenced the accused to life imprisonment along with a fine of Rs 25,000.
The incident occurred in 2022 in Kandei village under the Turekela police station limits. The victim, Phula Prasada Bag, and his younger brother Tilakchand Bag had been embroiled in a long-standing family feud. The dispute escalated to such an extent that Tilakchand allegedly murdered his elder brother Phula Prasada in a ruthless manner near the Arjuni riverbank.
Following the crime, Turekela police registered a case, conducted a thorough investigation, arrested the accused, and forwarded him to court. After a prolonged trial involving the examination of 18 witnesses and 16 important documents, the court found Tilakchand Bag guilty of the murder.
In its verdict, the court sentenced the convict to rigorous life imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 25,000. The judge further ordered that in case of default in payment of the fine, the accused would have to undergo an additional one year of imprisonment.
The stringent punishment has sent a strong message against family-related violence in the region. While the verdict has instilled fear among potential offenders, local residents have welcomed the judgment, hailing it as a landmark decision that upholds justice.
Government pleader Anil Sharma and other lawyers were present in the court during the pronouncement of the verdict.
