Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, April 26: A court in Rayagada district Tuesday awarded life imprisonment to inspector of schools Netrananda Dandasena in the sensational killing of Itishree Pradhan, a lady teacher, in 2013.
District and session judge Janab Mohammed Ajmal, in a 100-page ruling, held Dandasena guilty under Sections 109, 302 and 120 (B) of IPC and pronounced a life term for him.
The verdict was delivered on the basis of a chargesheet filed by the Crime Branch in the murder of Itishree, a lady teacher working at Tikiri in Rayagada district. While 36 witnesses had recorded their statements in favour of Itishree, four backed Dandasena.
Advocate Rajendra Prasad Sahoo was pleading the case on behalf of the CB. Though he sought capital punishment for the accused considering the gravity of the case, the judge awarded life imprisonment to him, Sahoo said.
Itishree was set ablaze after kerosene was poured on her on the school premises where she was staying in a room October 27, 2013. She succumbed to burn injuries while undergoing treatment in Vizag November 1, 2013.
Considering the sensitivity of the case, the state government had ordered a CB probe November 2, 2013 following an uproar over the issue.
