Bhubaneswar: The Sundargarh district court has convicted a man for the rape of a 51-year-old woman in a village under the Sadar police station area in 2021.
The court sentenced Mangala Gardia to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 10,000. In case of default, Gardia will have to undergo an additional three months of imprisonment.
The incident occurred on January 21, 2021, when the victim was returning home from a shop in her village. Gardia allegedly dragged her to a secluded spot and assaulted her. The victim’s screams attracted passersby, who rushed to the scene, prompting Gardia to flee.
The victim’s daughter lodged a complaint with the Sadar police station, based on which police registered a case and subsequently arrested the accused.
After examining 22 witnesses and reviewing 23 documents, the district court delivered its verdict, upholding the prosecution’s arguments. The court’s decision brings some justice to the victim and her family.
