Sundargarh: In a significant verdict delivered on Saturday, the Special POCSO Court in Sundargarh convicted and sentenced a man to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment for the rape of a minor girl in 2016. The court also imposed a fine of ₹20,000 on the convict, with an additional year of simple imprisonment if the amount is not paid.
The convict has been identified as Arun Kalet (30), a resident of the area under the Lefripada police station limits where the crime occurred.
According to the prosecution, the incident took place on the evening of January 10, 2016. The minor victim, who was around 9 years old at the time, had gone behind her house to defecate around 5:30 PM. When she did not return for a long time, her family launched a search but could not locate her.
The next morning, family members found her sitting alone and helpless on the Surguda road. Upon being rescued and questioned, the traumatized girl revealed that she had been sexually assaulted. She stated that the accused, Arun Kalet, had covered her mouth, forcibly lifted her, and carried her to a location near Demul village where he committed the crime. He then fled, leaving her there. Out of fear and shame, the minor girl remained in Demul throughout the night before making her way to the main road the following morning, where her family found her.
Based on a complaint filed by the victim’s mother on January 11, 2016, the Lefripada police registered a case under Section 376(2) of the Indian Penal Code and relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
Arun Kalet was initially arrested on January 12, 2016, and was remanded to judicial custody. However, he was granted bail on January 3, 2020, after which he absconded. Following the issuance of a non-bailable warrant by the court, police launched an intensive search operation. The accused was rearrested on December 3, 2024, and produced before the court, leading to the culmination of the trial.
Special Public Prosecutor Prabhat Kumar Nanda represented the state and ensured a swift conclusion to the case. In a significant move towards restorative justice, the court has also directed the District Legal Services Authority to provide a compensation of ₹5 lakh to the victim.
