Sambalpur: : A district and sessions court on Monday sentenced a 22-year-old man to life imprisonment for the 2024 murder of an unidentified beggar at Ainthapali here.District and sessions judge Pragyan Panigrahi, after examining testimonies of 14 witnesses and other evidence on record, held Ayush Munda of Mahanadi Vihar, under Ainthapali police limits, guilty of murder under Section 302 of the IPC.The court awarded him rigorous imprisonment for life and imposed a fine of Rs 10,000. In default, he will have to undergo additional two years of rigorous imprisonment.According to the prosecution, the incident occurred around 10 pm on April 20, 2024, near Durga Mandap at Ainthapali Chowk. The accused allegedly attacked the beggar, who was sleeping at the spot, by striking him on the head with a stone, causing grievous injuries.A local youth, Jay Patel of Karamtoli, along with others, rushed the injured man to the district headquarters hospital and later to VIMSAR, Burla, where doctors declared him dead.Police said the accused fled the scene after the incident. Based on a complaint lodged by Suratha Raut, Ainthapali police registered a case and launched an investigation. The accused was later arrested and, following submission of the chargesheet, the trial commenced, culminating in the conviction on Monday.The case was prosecuted by government advocate Subash Chandra Mohanta.
