Jajpur: A Special POCSO court here on Thursday sentenced a 45-year-old man to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment (RI) for the repeated rape of his 12-year-old daughter.
The court found the accused, a resident of the Sukinda police station area, guilty of the heinous crime that took place in 2024. The punishment, which includes a substantial fine of Rs 55,000. In the event of non-payment of the fine, the court ruled that the convict would face an additional 15 months of simple imprisonment.
According to the prosecution, the convict repeatedly subjected his minor daughter to sexual exploitation under various pretexts over a period of time. The victim, unable to bear the abuse any longer, mustered the courage to approach the Sakhi One-Stop Centre, an initiative aimed at supporting women affected by violence. Following her disclosure, officials at the centre filed a written complaint with the Sukinda Police, leading to the arrest of the accused.
The trial, conducted by Special Public Prosecutor Srinibas Sahoo, saw the court examine the testimonies of 25 witnesses and scrutinize corroborating evidence before delivering the final verdict.
In a significant move to aid the victim’s rehabilitation, the court directed the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) to provide a compensation of Rs 10,50,000 to the minor.
