Angul, April 10: The POCSO Court in Angul on Friday sentenced a 40-year-old man to death for the rape and murder of a child.

The verdict was delivered within just 13 months of the incident.

The convict, identified as Babulal Jena of Jereng village under the Jarapada police station limits, was found guilty of the capital offense following a trial that leaned heavily on scientific and medical evidence.

The court’s decision was solidified by a combination of DNA findings, detailed forensic analysis, and a series of corroborative testimonies that linked Jena directly to the crime.

The harrowing case began on March 14, 2025, when the family of the four-year-old girl, residing within the Nisha Shilpanchal police station area, reported her missing. Local authorities initiated an immediate and intensive search operation, which led to the discovery of the child’s body the following day near a mahua tree located close to her residence.

A subsequent post-mortem examination revealed the gravity of the assault, confirming that the minor had been sexually violated before being strangled to death. Following a rapid investigation, police apprehended Jena on March 17, 2025.

After a thorough review of the evidence presented by the prosecution, the court held Jena responsible for the atrocity and ordered that he be hanged by the neck until dead.