Dhenkanal: The Dhenkanal District Sessions Judge’s Court on Friday pronounced the long-awaited verdict in the high-profile Salman Rout murder case of Tarabha village in Dhenkanal district, sentencing eight accused to life imprisonment and imposing a fine of ₹20,000 each.

Out of the 15 individuals originally chargesheeted in the case, one accused had died during the trial, while six others were acquitted due to lack of evidence.

The case pertains to the murder of BJP youth leader Salman Rout from Tarabha village under Dhenkanal Sadar Police Station, which occurred during the three-tier panchayat elections in February 2017. Rout was shot dead amid tensions surrounding the sarpanch election in Tarabha Panchayat, sparking widespread outrage across Odisha at the time.

According to the judg

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