17 people were sentenced to life in prison for burning a couple to death on suspicion of witchcraft In Odisha

In a landmark decision, a court sentenced 17 people to life in prison on Thursday after they were found guilty of burning to death a couple in Jajpur on suspicion of witchcraft. The verdict was delivered by the judge of the civil and criminal court on Jajpur Road.

According to reports, the incident occurred on July 20, 2020, in Nimapali (Surisahi) under the jurisdiction of Kalinganagar Police. Some locals suspected Shaila Balmuj and his wife Sambhari Balmuj of practicing sorcery. Following the death of a villager, their suspicions grew. A group of 17 people first set fire to the couple’s house, then built a bonfire and threw the couple into it. The couple was burned alive. Police had arrested 17 people after receiving a complaint.

“All of the accused were convicted,” said government counsel Rajat Rout. The accused suspected the couple of hexed someone to death. Then they set fire to the couple’s house before charring the two to death in front of their children in a bonfire.”