12 convicted for witchcraft killing of father-son in Odisha's Gajapati district
Synopsis
More than four years after a village assembly in Gajapati condemned Luka Dalabehera and his son Anuka as witches — sealing their fate in a field on the outskirts of Kusumsahi village — a court has handed life sentences to all 12 men responsible. The verdict is a rare, full-accountability outcome in a category of crime that Odisha has struggled to prosecute and prevent for decades.
Key Takeaways
The Additional Sessions Judge's Court, Paralakhemundi sentenced 12 persons to life imprisonment on 17 September 2026 .
Victims Luka Dalabehera and his son Anuka Dalabehera were killed on 12 June 2021 after being accused of witchcraft at a village meeting in Muthaguda, Gajapati .
Anuka was killed by having his throat slit; the court ruled both deaths homicidal and rejected a false-implication defence.
All 12 convicts are residents of Muthaguda village under Adava Police Station limits.
In a separate verdict the same day, Gurunath Gouda of Rayagada district was also sentenced to life for killing his wife in February 2024 .
A court in Paralakhemundi on Thursday, 17 September 2026, sentenced 12 persons to life imprisonment for the brutal killing of a father and his son in Gajapati district, Odisha, after the victims were accused of practising witchcraft by fellow villagers. The Additional Sessions Judge's Court convicted all 12 accused after examining witness testimonies and material evidence, rejecting their defence of false implication.
What Happened in Muthaguda Village
According to court records, on 12 June 2021, a village assembly was convened near the house of accused Josua Gamango at Muthaguda village under Adava Police Station limits in Gajapati district. The gathering concluded that Luka Dalabehera was responsible for deaths in the village through witchcraft. Luka and his son Anuka Dalabehera were subsequently taken to the outskirts of Kusumsahi village, where both were killed. Anuka was murdered by having his throat slit, according to the court findings.
How the Case Was Registered
The case was brought to light after Ludia Gamango, the deceased Luka's daughter, filed a written complaint. The Adava Police registered Case No. 63/21 on 13 June 2021 and, following a thorough investigation, submitted a charge-sheet against all 12 accused persons. The court, after examining the full record, ruled both deaths as homicidal.
The 12 Convicts
All 12 convicts — Josua Gamango, Benjamin Gamango, Sanjay Gamango, Abhimanyu Raika, Kandra Gamango alias Janas, Mikhaiel Gamango, Seto Raika, Jiri alias Jermiya Raika, Abraham Badaraita, Junesh Raita, Kura Raita, and Somanath Gamango — belong to Muthaguda village. Superintendent of Police, Gajapati, Prahalad Sahai Meena, acknowledged the role of investigating officers, the prosecuting officer, and court staff in securing the conviction in what he called a heinous double murder case.
Second Life-Sentence Verdict in Odisha Courts on Same Day
In a separate judgement delivered on the same day, a local court in Rayagada district sentenced Gurunath Gouda of Bhatipas village under Kashipur police station to life imprisonment for killing his wife Puspa Gouda. On 5 February 2024, Gouda allegedly hacked his wife to death with an axe over a domestic dispute at their home. The victim was rushed to a hospital at Thuamulrampur, where she was declared dead on arrival.
Witchcraft Violence: A Persistent Problem in Odisha
Odisha has a documented history of violence linked to witchcraft accusations, particularly in tribal-dominated districts such as Gajapati, Mayurbhanj, and Keonjhar. State law — the Odisha Prevention of Witch-Hunting Act, 1999 — criminalises such acts, yet enforcement gaps and deeply entrenched beliefs continue to result in deaths. This case, which took over four years from crime to conviction, underscores both the persistence of the problem and the slow pace at which justice is delivered to victims' families. The life sentences handed down Thursday may serve as a deterrent, though advocates have long argued that community education and faster trials are equally necessary to curb such crimes.
Point of View
The false-implication defence dismissed, and a clear judicial record that mob belief in witchcraft cannot substitute for law. Yet four years from crime to conviction is far too long for victims' families, and it reflects a systemic sluggishness that emboldens similar acts elsewhere. Odisha's 1999 anti-witch-hunting law remains one of the oldest such statutes in India, but its deterrent value is undermined when trials stretch across years and reporting rates stay low. The deeper question is whether the state treats this as an isolated criminal case or as evidence of a structural failure in community-level protection for marginalised women and men accused by their own neighbours.
NationPress
18 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who were the victims in the Gajapati witchcraft killing case?
The victims were Luka Dalabehera and his son Anuka Dalabehera, both residents of the Gajapati district area in Odisha. They were killed on 12 June 2021 after a village assembly accused Luka of causing deaths in the community through witchcraft.
How many people were convicted and what was the sentence?
Twelve people were convicted and each was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Additional Sessions Judge's Court in Paralakhemundi on 17 September 2026. The court rejected their defence of false implication after examining witness statements and other evidence.
What law applies to witchcraft-linked killings in Odisha?
The Odisha Prevention of Witch-Hunting Act, 1999, criminalises the identification of individuals as witches and any violence that follows. This case was prosecuted under relevant provisions of criminal law alongside this state-specific framework.
Who filed the complaint that led to the arrests?
Ludia Gamango, the daughter of deceased Luka Dalabehera, filed a written report with the Adava Police on 13 June 2021. Police registered Case No. 63/21 and filed a charge-sheet against all 12 accused after investigation.
Was there a second significant court verdict in Odisha on the same day?
Yes. A court in Rayagada district also sentenced Gurunath Gouda to life imprisonment on the same day for killing his wife Puspa Gouda with an axe in February 2024 over a domestic dispute. She was declared dead at a hospital in Thuamulrampur.
