Bhubaneswar: The Special POCSO Court in Sundaraagada on Wednesday convicted two persons for abduction and gang rape of a minor girl in Talasara police station area and sentenced them to life imprisonment.
Special Judge Gyan Ranjan Patnaik convicted the accused Ankit Apat and Lulendu Naik alias Lulu of Talasara area under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and POCSO Act, and imposed a fine of Rs 30,000 each.
The Court also directed the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) to provide compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the victim.
According to the prosecution, the incident took place on April 21, 2025. The minor girl was returning home with her friends after a feast around 2 pm when the accused abducted her from the road in a Bolero. Her friends fled in fear. The accused allegedly raped her inside the vehicle and later took her to a nearby forest where she was gang-raped again. The victim somehow managed to escape and lodged a complaint at Talasara police station.
Police traced the Bolero and took three accused into custody. While Ankit Apat and Lulendu Naik were arrested and produced in court, a third accused, being a minor, was sent to the juvenile home in Rourkela. The victim identified the accused during TI parade.The investigating officer filed the chargesheet within the stipulated time.
The scientific team collected evidence and DNA samples of the victim and accused were examined. The Court pronounced the verdict based on the police complaint, medical and scientific reports and deposition of 28 witnesses.
Special Public Prosecutor Pratava Kumar Nanda conducted the case on behalf of the prosecution. Trial of the minor accused is pending before the Juvenile Justice Board.
