Balasore SC/ST Court Awards Death Sentence In Brutal Acid Attack Murder Case
Main accused Chandan Rana convicted under Section 302 IPC; verdict based on 110 documents and testimony of 34 witnesses
Bhubaneswar: In a significant judgment, the Special SC/ST Court in Balasore on Friday sentenced the prime accused to death in a brutal acid attack case that resulted in the murder of a woman and left several others grievously injured.
The Special Court held Chandan Rana guilty under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code for carrying out the heinous crime on February 20, 2023. According to prosecution reports, Rana allegedly attacked his second wife, Banita Singh, with acid before fleeing the scene. The assault also targeted other members of the family, including the elder daughter and granddaughter of Kartik Singh.
Banita Singh later succumbed to her injuries while undergoing treatment at a hospital in Cuttack. Several other family members, including a woman, her daughter and son, sustained serious burn injuries in the attack.
Following the incident, Balasore Police launched an intensive investigation and arrested seven persons in connection with the case. To track down the main accused, five special teams were constituted. With coordinated assistance from police authorities in Kolkata, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu, Rana was eventually apprehended from outside Odisha.
Earlier, Sahadevkhunta police had arrested Rana’s first wife and one of his associates for their alleged involvement in the crime.
Special Public Prosecutor Sanjay Kumar Mohanty stated that the conviction was based on the examination of 110 documentary evidences and testimonies of 34 witnesses. “Delivering swift justice, the Special Judge sentenced the accused to death,” he said.
Expressing relief after the verdict, a family member of the deceased said the family had finally received justice after three long years. “My sister-in-law died after battling for six days in a Cuttack hospital. My wife, daughter and son suffered severe injuries. I am satisfied that the court has awarded the death sentence,” he said.
The judgment is being seen as a strong message against acid violence and crimes targeting women.