Man Gets 5-Year Jail Term For Attempt To Rape Minor Girl In Odisha’s Nuapada

Nuapada: A man was sentenced to rigorous imprisonment for five years by a court in Odisha’s Nuapada district on Friday for attempting to rape and sexually assaulting a minor girl at a village nine years ago.

Additional district and sessions Judge-cum-Special Judge (POCSO) Minakshi Das held Bhubaneswar Jagat (38) guilty and awarded the jail term for committing the crime on June 1, 2014 at Goimundi village under Khariar police station in the district.

The court sentenced Jagat to five years imprisonment and a fine of Rs 5,000 for attempt to rape. He was also awarded five years jail term and Rs 3,000 fine m for sexual assault. The substantive sentences imposed by the court would run concurrently, the order said.

In case of realisation or deposit of the fine amount of Rs 8,000 from the convict, the whole amount would be paid to the victim as a nominal compensation, it said.

As per the prosecution, the 14-year-old girl had gone outside her house in Goimundi village on June 1, 2014 to attend call of nature when Jagat suddenly came from her back side and embraced her. He then sexually assaulted the victim and attempted to rape her. However, with much difficulty she managed to escape and return home.

An FIR was lodged at Khariar police station the next day. The man was charged with offences under section 376/511 of Indian Penal Code (IPC) and section 8 of Protection of Children From Sexual Offences Act-2012(POCSO Act).

The court pronounced its verdict on the basis of statements of 13 witnesses and other evidence.