Ormanjhi triple murder case: 11 convicted, court to decide punishment on September 17

A court in Ranchi has convicted 11 people, including a woman, in the three-year-old Ormanjhi triple murder case, bringing the long-running trial to a crucial stage. The court will hear arguments on the quantum of punishment on September 17.

Additional Judicial Commissioner Arvind Kumar pronounced the verdict in the case related to the killings in Gunja Devanjara village under Ormanjhi police station.

The case reportedly began with a minor dispute over crop damage caused by pigs grazing in a maize field. An argument broke out between the families of Jhameshwar Bedia and Sahjanath Bedia. During the dispute, Jhameshwar allegedly assaulted some members of the other family.

The disagreement subsequently escalated into a serious feud between the two families.

According to the prosecution case, on August 31, 2023, Sahjanath Bedia allegedly went to Jhameshwar's house along with other members of his family. The confrontation turned violent, with the accused allegedly attacking the occupants with weapons including a spade, chopper and dabli.

Jhameshwar Bedia and his two wives, Sarita and Sanju, were killed in the attack.

The case drew further attention because one of the women killed was reportedly pregnant at the time of the incident.

After the trial, the court convicted Sahjanath Bedia, Rajo Devi, Sanjeet Bedia, Ranjeet Bedia, Hemant Bedia, Mahendra Bedia, Panchint Bedia, Kameshwar Bedia, Bedia Bedia, Anuj Bedia and Sukra Munda.

The court has not yet pronounced the punishment. The prosecution and defence will make their submissions on the quantum of sentence on September 17, after which the court will decide the punishment for the 11 convicts.

The sentencing hearing will bring the judicial proceedings in the triple murder case to another significant stage, nearly three years after the killings.