Jeypore: A Special POCSO court in Jeypore has sentenced life imprisonment to a 63-year-old man for the rape of a six-year-old girl in 2022.
The convict, Balmiki alias Bhalu Martha (63) had committed the crime in Lakshmipur police station area in Koraput district in 2022.
The court delivered the judgment, based on the testimony of 13 witnesses and 21 documents, leading to Martha’s conviction under Section 376AB of the IPC and Section 4(2) and 6 of the POCSO Act. In addition to life imprisonment, the court has imposed a fine of Rs. 50,000 on the convict. In default of payment, Martha will undergo an additional six months of rigorous imprisonment.
The court has also directed the District Legal Services Authority to provide an ex-gratia amount of Rs. 7 lakh to the victim. An interim compensation of Rs. 3 lakh had already been paid to the victim during the trial. The remaining amount of Rs. 4 lakh will be paid to her.
The incident occurred on February 6, 2022, when the minor girl was playing on the village road. Martha forcefully picked her up and raped her inside his home, threatening to kill her if she revealed the incident. The case was registered at the Lakshmipur police station on the complaint of her mother following which police arrested him and submitted the charge-sheet subsequently.
