Bhubaneswar, Apr 13 (IANS): A court in Odisha's Rayagada district on Friday sentenced nine persons to death for murdering three of a family in 2016 on suspicion of practising sorcery.
The Additional District Judge (ADJ) Court pronounced the sentence.
In September 2016, the three members of a tribal family, including two women, were hacked and then burnt by some persons in Rayagada's Kitunga village.
The convicts have been identified as Ajanta Sabara, Bubhuna Sabara, Maluku Sabara, Podantu Sabara, Iru Sabara, Lakia Sabara, Degun Sabara, Dasanta Sabara and Dalsa Sabara.
"Adjudicating the murder case, ADJ Subhendu Kumar Pati awarded death sentence to nine men," said Krushna Chandra Senapati, Assistant Public Prosecutor.
The court earlier held 10 persons, including a minor, guilty in the case. The convicts' counsel said they will move the High Court.