Bhubaneswar: In a swift and decisive judgment, a Special POCSO court in Bhubaneswar on Thursday sentenced a man to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment for the rape of a 13-year-old girl. The court concluded the trial and pronounced the verdict just 37 days after the horrific crime was committed.
The convict, identified as Muna Behera, was also fined Rs 50,000 by the court. Furthermore, in a significant directive, the court ordered the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) to provide a compensation of Rs 6 lakh to the survivor.
The crime dates back to the evening of September 2 this year. According to the case records, the survivor was on her way to participate in the Khudurukuni Puja in the city’s Chandaka area when Behera forcibly took her to a secluded spot and raped her.
Acting promptly on a complaint filed by the victim, the Commissionerate Police registered a case and arrested the accused. The investigation was led by Chandaka Police Inspector Samita Mishra and Sub-Inspector Jyotshna Rani Pradhan.
The court found Behera guilty under Section 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the relevant section of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Special Public Prosecutor Subrat Priyadarshi stated that the court delivered the verdict after a thorough examination of eight witnesses and the substantial evidence gathered by the police during the probe.
The expeditious conclusion of the case within 37 days has been noted as a remarkable example of fast-track justice for a grievous crime against a minor.
