Sundargarh: The District and Sessions Court of Sundargarh has sentenced four men to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment (RI) in connection with the abduction, gang rape, and trafficking of a differently-abled young woman from the Hemgiri area. A woman convicted of selling the victim has been sentenced to three years of imprisonment.
The court also imposed a fine of ₹10,000 on each convict, with an additional six months of imprisonment to be served in case of default.
Further, the court directed the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) to provide ₹10 lakh as compassionate assistance to the survivor.
The case dates back to 2016, when a deaf and dumb young woman from Hemgiri police station limits was abducted while stepping out of her house at night.
The accused allegedly gang-raped her on the road, looted her jewelry, and later trafficked her to Haryana, where she was sold.
In a twist, the person who bought her later contacted her father and informed him about her whereabouts, leading to her rescue and safe return. Based on the victim’s statement, police arrested the accused, and the case proceeded to trial.
After years of legal battle, the verdict has finally brought a sense of relief to the victim’s family. “We are happy that justice has been delivered,” her parents told reporters outside the court.
