Berhampur: A local court here awarded life imprisonment to 18 persons in connection with a 12-year old murder case.
The Additional District Judge- I court in Berhampur convicted 18 persons in murder of Maheswar Sasmal, a resident of Phulta village under Rangeilunda Block in Ganjam district in 2007.
Additional District Judge-I Sanjay Kumar Sahu on Wednesday pronounced the quantum of punishment on the basis of the statements of 12 witnesses and evidence.
According to the case diary, Sasmal was involved in a series of criminal activities. The 19 members of the peace committee formed in Phulta village then had attacked Sasmal in 2007 causing his death.
The police had filed a case against them and arrested all the 19 accused. However, they were later released on conditional bail.
Out of 19, one accused had died during the trial period of the case.