CUTTACK, India, May 1 -- Orissa High Court issued the following order on March 31:

1. Both these appeals have arisen out of the same judgment and hence, were heard together and are being disposed of by this common judgment.

2. The appellants faced trial along with one Rajib Kumar Mallick @ Piki in S.T. Case No. 48/6 of 2003 in the Court of learned Adhoc. Additional District and Sessions Judge, Fast Track Court, Rourkela for committing the murder of one Arjuna Mohananda. While Rajib Kumar Mallick was acquitted, the present appellants were convicted under Sections 302/34 IPC and were sentenced to imprisonment for life.

3. Prosecution case, briefly stated, is as follows:

On 28.03.2002, one Narayan Naik was alone in his quarter in Sector-16 of Rourkela. One Dusmanta Sahoo, who happens to be his friend, came to his quarter and stayed for the night. The next day, that is, 29.03.2002 was the day of Holi. Narayan went to play Holi with his friends while Dusmanta stayed back. Narayan returned with his friends at about 2 P.M. and thereafter went to take bath in the river. At about 3.30 P.M., Arjuna Mohananda (deceased) came on a scooter to the quarter. Both he and Dusmanta played cards. After some time, Narayan returned and went to the house of his maternal uncle to bring curry. Subsequently Pintu, Raju, accused Anil Barua, accused Khetramohan @ Mangu and another unknown boy came to the quarter. Mangu took the scooter key from the deceased with the intent of going somewhere. Narayan arrived with the curry thereafter and talked with those persons outside the quarter. Then he went on the scooter of Arjuna Mohananda with accused Anil.

When Dusmanta went to take bath in the bathroom, he heard a gunshot and came running outside. He found deceased Arjun Mohananda lying on the cot with severe bleeding. Mangu, Pintu and another boy rushed inside the room. While Pintu was holding a revolver, Mangu was holding a Bhujali. Pintu fired a shot aiming at Arjuna while Mangu repeatedly assaulted him by means of the Bhujali. Anil was keeping guard at the rear side of the door and Raju was at the front side. The unknown boy shouted on seeing the informant 'Dhara Mara'.

*Rest of the document can be viewed at: (https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/ecourtindiaHC/cases/display_pdf.php?filename=WSRFLpK7bpll%2Fzvq9H5YQoFt96YF8%2BVGkZzPjxVEDhtgXYl9QTGXzR%2FRInHmXTtb&caseno=CRLA/265/2003&cCode=1&cino=ODHC010023352003&state_code=11&appFlag=)

Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.