Jeypore (Koraput): A Special POCSO Court in Jeypore sentenced a 43-year-old man, Tutu Hial, to 10 years’ rigorous imprisonment for raping a minor girl in the Sunabeda area in 2021.
The order was passed by the court based on the statements of 15 witnesses and 22 documents. Hial was punished under Section 376AB/511 of the IPC and Section 18/6 of the POCSO Act. He was also fined Rs. 10,000; failure to pay would result in an additional four months of imprisonment.
The District Legal Services Authority was directed to pay an ex-gratia amount of Rs. 6 lakh to the victim, who had already received Rs. 3 lakh as interim compensation. Additionally, she will receive Rs 3 lakh as compensation.
In October 2010, while the minor girl was visiting her elder sister’s house, Hial took her to an undisclosed location and attempted to rape her. A bystander took a photo on his mobile phone and shouted, prompting Hial to flee as people gathered. After informing the victim’s family, the photographer filed a police complaint. The Sunabeda police subsequently investigated the case and arrested the accused.
