Baripada: A Special POCSO court here on Friday sentenced a 23-year-old man to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment (RI) for the rape of a 12-year-old girl in 2021. The court also imposed a substantial fine and directed a compensation payment to the survivor.
Special Judge Pratima Patra held Balaram Munda guilty of the crime, which occurred under the jurisdiction of the Jamada police station. In addition to the prison term, the court levied a fine of ₹50,000 on the convict.
The court also directed the Mayurbhanj District Legal Services Authority to provide a compensation of ₹7 lakh to the survivor for her rehabilitation.
The case dates back to November 23, 2021. According to the prosecution, the survivor was returning home after shopping when Munda forcibly abducted her and committed the crime in a secluded area.
The incident was reported by the girl’s father at the Jamda police station, leading to Munda’s arrest. A case was registered under stringent sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, including Section 6, and relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code.
The conviction was secured based on a robust body of evidence, which included the victim’s statement, supporting testimonies from 17 witnesses, and the medical report, which collectively established the prosecution’s case beyond a reasonable doubt.
