Baripada: A special fast-track POCSO court here has sentenced a 25-year-old man to 20 years rigorous imprisonment (RI) for the abduction and rape of a minor girl.
The verdict, delivered by Additional District and Sessions Judge Santosh Kumar Nayak, also imposed a ₹20,000 fine on the convict, Rabi Narayan Bhuyan, with an additional year of imprisonment if the fine remains unpaid.
The incident occurred on March 27, 2024, in Nimdihi Colony Sahi village under the Bahalda police station jurisdiction.
Bhuyan allegedly abducted the minor from her home while she was sleeping with her family and took her to a nearby jungle, where he raped her.
The family, upon noticing her absence, conducted a search and rescued her. They subsequently filed a complaint with the Bahalda police, who registered a case, recorded the victim’s statement, and arrested the accused.
The court’s decision was based on witness testimonies, medical reports, and the police investigation. In addition to the sentencing,
Judge Nayak directed the District Legal Services Authority to provide ₹3 lakh as compensation to the victim to support her rehabilitation.
The case was prosecuted by Special Public Prosecutor Manaranjan Pattnaik, who presented a robust case leading to the conviction.
