India, June 29 -- A court in Odisha's Jajpur district today pronounced its verdict in connection with a case pertaining to the death of Rama Devi Women's University student Jharaphula Nayak in 2021.

The Additional District Sessions Judge, Jajpur, awarded life term to Jharaphula's male friend Rakesh Kumar Swain after convicting him in the case. The court also slapped a penalty of Rs 1 lakh on the convict. Non-payment of the penalty amount would invite imprisonment for one more year, said the court.

As per the verdict, Swain's aide Amaresh Rout would undergo imprisonment for five years for assisting the prime accused in destroying the evidence.

It is worth mentioning here that Jharaphula (21), a resident of Maundeipasi village under Jas...