Anugola: A Fast-Track Court in Odisha’s Anugola district on Friday sentenced four men to rigorous imprisonment for 20 years in connection with the gangrape of a 21-year-old woman and a minor girl two years ago.
The Additional District and Sessions Judge (Fast-Track Special Court), Anugola, convicted all four accused under Section 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Apart from awarding jail terms, the court also imposed fines on the convicts under different sections of the law.
According to case records, the incident occurred on August 6, 2024, when a 21-year-old woman and a minor girl were allegedly forced to consume alcohol before being sexually assaulted by a group of men in Anugola district.
After registering a case, police arrested four accused, identified as Jitu Sahu, Hrudaya Chandra Pradhan, Asit Kumar Sahu, and Deepu alias Dibyaranjan Amanta.
Police completed the investigation and filed the chargesheet within 59 days of the case being registered. Investigators relied on scientific evidence, witness testimonies and other corroborative material to build the prosecution’s case.
Based on the evidence presented during the trial, the Fast-Track Special Court found all four accused guilty and awarded rigorous imprisonment of 20 years.
Odisha Police said the conviction highlights the importance of scientific, victim-centric and evidence-based investigations in ensuring timely justice in crimes against women and children.