POCSO Court Sentences Man To 10 Years In Jail For Rape Of Minor In Odisha

Jeypore: A man was sentenced to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment by a POCSO Court in Jeypore for raping a minor girl in Odisha’s Nabarangpur.

Judge Pradip Kumar Sasmal of Special Fast Track POCSO Court convicted Bhagban Jani of Tentulikhunti to 10 years RI for raping a minor girl in 2018 after examining the statements of nine witnesses.

The judge also imposed a fine of Rs 10,000. On failing to pay the fine, Jani will have to undergo additional six months in jail, the order stated.

According to the prosecution, on December 3, 2018, Jani went to work in a house in Bisinghpur area of Tentulikhunti. A minor girl from the village had gone to attend nature’s call in Nilgiri forest when Jani followed her and committed the crime.

In their complaint, the family members stated that they rushed to the forest upon hearing her screams. Jani had managed to flee the spot by escaping the family members’ attention. They later lodged a written complaint at Bisinghpur police station.

The court ordered District Legal Service Authority to provide financial assistance of Rs 2.5 lakh to the victim in addition to the fine realised from the convict.