Berhampur: Local courts in Ganjam and Kandhamal districts sentenced 49 people to life imprisonment in 13 different murder cases during this year.
Among the high-profile convictions was former Chhatrapur MLA and CPI leader N Narayan Reddy (68), who along with 12 others, was sentenced to life imprisonment on July 31 for the murder of a police officer in Sindhigaon in 1998. Reddy was later released on bail by Orissa high court.
In another notable case, a senior doctor received a life sentence on Jan 12 for the murder of a 45-year-old woman in 2018. The doctor killed the victim with lethal injection and dismembered her body before disposal.
District and sessions court in Ganjam also handed life terms to six individuals on Nov 25 for the murder of an RTI activist in Baliguda town, Kandhamal district, in Dec 2019.
“The convictions were secured due to sufficient evidence gathered by investigating officers,” said public prosecutor Trilochan Parida. He noted that several long-pending cases, including two police murders, were resolved this year.
A senior police officer attributed the successful convictions to proper investigation. “We emphasise scientific investigation methods and proper evidence collection,” he said, adding that regular training sessions are conducted with experts and public prosecutors to enhance investigation skills.
A court also convicted 10 individuals on Nov 7 in connection with a 2019 murder case.