A court in Bhubaneswar has delivered a stern verdict in a tragic 2020 case, sentencing a man to a decade behind bars for his role in a robbery that led to the death of an elderly woman. The judgment brings a measure of closure to a case that had initially stumped investigators.
Court Delivers Decade-Long Sentence
Additional District and Sessions Judge (3rd), Bhubaneswar, Himanshu Sekhar Mallick, found Narayan Mohanty (around 40 years old) guilty on Friday of charges including robbery and culpable homicide not amounting to murder. The court pronounced a rigorous imprisonment sentence of 10 years for the crimes committed in the Nayapalli area.
The case dates back to July 26, 2020, when the victim, Tulasi Devi, was attacked at her residence. According to the prosecution, Mohanty and a minor accomplice targeted Devi while she was sweeping the floor at the entrance of her home. Seeing that she was alone, the duo attempted to snatch her gold chain.
The Fatal Attack and Police Investigation
When Tulasi Devi resisted the robbery, the assailants turned violent. They attacked her with a knife, inflicting grievous injuries. Despite being rushed to a private hospital for treatment, the elderly woman succumbed to her wounds a few days after the assault.
Initially, the case presented a significant challenge for the police. ACP Sarat Kumar Sahu, who was the inspector in-charge of Nayapalli police station at the time and led the investigation, described it as a "blind case." With no immediate leads, the investigating team employed a unique strategy.
"We deployed informers inside Jharpada jail and obtained crucial leads that helped us identify Mohanty," revealed ACP Sahu. Their persistence paid off. It was discovered that Mohanty was already lodged in jail, having been arrested in a separate case just weeks after the Nayapalli incident. The police then secured him on remand, during which he eventually confessed to the crime.
Confession and Closure
The confession was a pivotal breakthrough, allowing the prosecution to build a solid case against Mohanty. The court proceedings established a clear chain of events from the attempted robbery to the violent resistance and the tragic outcome.
The verdict underscores the legal consequences of crimes that escalate from theft to violence resulting in death. While the sentence for culpable homicide not amounting to murder differs from a murder conviction, the 10-year term reflects the severity of the offense. The involvement of a minor accomplice also highlights a disturbing aspect of the crime, though the minor's case would be handled separately under relevant juvenile laws.
This judgment serves as a somber reminder of the vulnerability of elderly citizens living alone and the lengths to which law enforcement must sometimes go to solve complex cases. For the family of Tulasi Devi, the court's decision marks the end of a long and painful legal battle for justice.
