Jeypore, April 21: A Special POCSO Court in Jeypore on Tuesday sentenced a man to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment for abducting and sexually assaulting a minor girl under the pretext of marriage in 2024. The incident took place in the Pottangi police station area of Koraput district.
The verdict was delivered after the court examined statements from 12 witnesses. The Additional District and Sessions Judge-cum-POCSO Court found Gopal Pangi, a resident of Majhiput village under Semiliguda police limits, guilty of the charges.
The court also imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 on the convict. If the fine is not paid, he will face an additional 15 months of rigorous imprisonment.
The court further ordered that Rs 4 lakh be provided to the victim as compensation through the District Legal Services Authority on behalf of the government.
