A man from Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district, who was wrongfully convicted of a triple murder, has been released after spending 19 years in jail. The man, identified as Habil Sindhu, was accused of murdering three of his neighbors, including a child, and was also falsely charged with practicing black magic.
In 2003, following a complaint filed at Jashipur police station, Habil was arrested. Two years later, in 2005, the Additional District and Sessions Judge sentenced him to life imprisonment for the murders. Despite the conviction, Habil maintained his innocence and appealed the district court’s decision in the Odisha High Court.
Due to the sensitivity of the case, the high court appointed an amicus curiae to investigate the matter further. After reviewing the 32-page investigation report and statements from the witnesses, the court found no substantial evidence against Habil. As a result, the case was referred back to the district and sessions court.
On December 16, 2021, Habil was finally declared innocent and ordered to be released after nearly two decades in prison. Expressing his emotions after the court’s decision, Habil said, “I am very happy today as the court cleared my name and freed me. I have lost 19 important years of my life in jail, which is a very long time. My family has rejected me, but I will return to my village and start farming.”
Human rights advocate Arbind Das, who worked on Habil’s case, remarked, “Though he was found innocent, he spent almost 19 years in prison for a crime he didn’t commit. He has lost his youth, his family, and nearly two decades of his life. Who will take responsibility for this injustice?”
Habil’s story is a stark reminder of the need for judicial reforms to prevent wrongful convictions and the suffering caused by such miscarriages of justice.
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