Kataka: A court in Kataka on Thursday sentenced three men to life imprisonment for the gang rape of a 14-year-old girl, also imposing a fine of ₹1.40 lakh on each convict and directing that the amount be paid to the victim as compensation.
The Additional Sessions Judge (FTSC-2), presided over by Judge Sabita Das, also ordered an additional compensation of ₹2 lakh for the victim. A fourth accused in the case was acquitted for lack of sufficient evidence.
The convicts have been identified as Ram Baraja (38), from Kamakhyanagar police station area in Dhenkanal district, Mahima Bara (20), from Nihalprasad area, and Charan Munda (40), from Badachana police station area in Jajpur district.
The court convicted them under Sections 70(2), 64(2) and 351(3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and Section 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
According to the prosecution, the minor girl was living and working at a firewood godown in Kataka when she was subjected to sexual assault by multiple persons on several occasions.
She subsequently managed to inform her sister and brother-in-law about the ordeal through a driver’s mobile phone. They rescued her with the assistance of Choudwar police.
Following a complaint by the victim, Choudwar police registered a case on October 4, 2024, and initiated an investigation. Sub-Inspector Saraswati Sahu was entrusted with the probe.
Police arrested the three convicts on October 5, 2024, and subsequently filed the chargesheet on December 5, 2024.
Special Public Prosecutor Mihir Sekhar Sahu represented the government during the trial.
