Baripada: The Ad-Hoc Additional District & Session Judge, Fast Track Special Court under Pocso Act in Baripada, Mayurbhanj district, has sentenced a 60-year-old man to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment for raping a differently-abled minor girl.
The court also imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 on the convict, with an additional six months of imprisonment in case of default.
The incident occurred in May 2023 when the victim, a differently-abled minor girl, was bathing in a village pond. The accused, Sukra Singh, took advantage of her isolation and raped her. The victim was threatened and silenced for eight months before she mustered the courage to reveal the incident to her family members.
A complaint was filed in this regard on January 11, 2024. Subsequently, police registered a case and conducted a thorough investigation, gathering evidence and recording statements from witnesses. Based on the investigation report, medical records, and witness testimonies, the court delivered its verdict, convicting the accused and sentencing him to 20 years of imprisonment.
Additionally, the court directed the District Legal Services Authority to provide compensation of Rs 5 lakh to the victim.
