In a judgment here last Friday, additional sessions judge, Pradip Kumar Das sentenced to life imprisonment Gouranga Behera, his wife Nishamani and their son three year's rigorous imprisonment under Section 498 A and two year's rigorous imprisonment under Section four of the Dowry Prohibition Act. The police registered a case earlier against the accused for burning to death their daughter-in-law Sabita on February 7, 1995.

Sabita, daughter of Rabinarayan Sahu of Chudangasahi, married Hari, alias Alok, son of Gouranga Behera in 1994. Her father provided Rs 25,000 in cash, a scooter and gold jewellery as dowry. But after seven months, a pregnant Sabita faced torture as her father could not provide Rs 10,000 to her in-laws. Sabita returned to her parents in January 1995 but after five days her in-laws persuaded her to return to her husband. On February 7, she was burnt to death.