Rourkela, Nov. 25: Two persons, including 75-year-old Akhaya Swain, were sentenced to life imprisonment by a local court today for setting ablaze five persons, including four engineering students, on December 28, 2010.

The victims included Ajit, the son of Akhaya. The other four victims were the friends of his grandson Anup. They are Buddhadeb Minz, Biswaranjan Satpathy, Gopal Chandra Pradhan, Philips Ekka and Ajit Swain. Anup and another friend of him - Amaresh Maharana suffered burn injuries in the attack by Akhaya. However, they survived.

Akhaya, a retired employee of the Rourkela Steel Plant, had set the victims on fire when they were having dinner at his house. Akhaya's other sons, who were eyewitnesses, had given evidence against him in the case.

Additional public prosecutor Rabindranath Senapati said: "Additional district judge-II Srinibas Pratihari sentenced Akhaya and his aide Phuljames Soren, 40, to life imprisonment. He found Akhaya and Phuljames guilty and convicted them on charges of murder. Phuljames had supplied two cans of petrol and had helped Akhaya in setting the six persons on fire."

Akhaya was staying at his own house in Sarna Chowk at Jagda in the city and he had problems with all his three sons. One of his sons was staying away, while two others - Abhaya and Ajit - were staying in the same building.

Anup was studying in a local engineering college. His friends from the college Budhadeb, Biswaranjan, Gopal, Philips and Amaresh lived in a rented house in the same area. They used to frequently come to Anup's home, which Akhaya didn't like.

"Akhaya decided to get rid of them and hatched a plan with Phuljames who helped him get petrol," said Senapati.

On December 28, 2010, Anup had invited his five of his friends at home for dinner. While they were having dinner, Akhaya and Phuljames reached the spot and set them on fire. They also closed the door from outside (to ensure that all are burnt alive)," said Senapati.