Odisha double murder: Two get life sentences for killing mother and 7 year old boy

New Delhi: A court in Odisha’s Ganjam district on Wednesday gave life sentences to two people, including a 27-year-old woman, for killing a mother and her seven-year-old son in 2024, a government lawyer said.

Additional District Judge Sangeeta Pani sentenced G Devendra and D Gunnama, both from Chudialanjia village, for the double murder of D Neelabeni (28) and her son, D Rushi. The crime happened in the Jarada police area on February 19, 2024, according to Additional Public Prosecutor Santoshini Purohit.

She said the court handed down the verdict after evaluating 39 witnesses, including police officers, and carefully reviewing key documents.

Police originally found the bodies of the mother and child inside their home on February 19, 2024, and sent them for a post-mortem examination.

At the time of the murders, Neelabeni’s husband, D Mohan Reddy, was working overseas. The two convicts were relatives of the victimized family, Purohit said.

After filing a case, the Jarada police arrested the accused on February 26, 2024. They have been held in judicial custody ever since, as their bail applications were turned down, she said.

According to the prosecution, the pair decided to kill the woman and her son after Neelabeni found out about an extra-marital affair between the two convicts.

Police said Neelabeni had warned that she would tell her husband about the affair, leading Devendra to plot her murder with Gunnama’s help.

Gunnama allegedly visited Neelabeni’s house on the evening of February 18,2024 and quietly unlocked the terrace door without anyone knowing.

Devendra, Later that night allegedly crept into the house from the back and choked Neelabeni to death. Police said her young son, who was sleeping nearby, woke up and saw what happened.

Afraid that the boy would tell someone, the attacker allegedly smothered him to death, police added.

Curated by- Ramansh Dhadwal