Baripada, Aug 22: A court in Baripada, Mayurbhanj district, has sentenced a 60-year-old man to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment for raping a differently-abled minor girl.
The verdict was delivered by the Ad-Hoc Additional District & Session Judge, Fast Track Special Court under the POCSO Act.
The court also imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 on the convict, Sukra Singh, with a default sentence of six additional months in jail.
The incident took place in May 2023 when the victim was bathing in a village pond. Singh took advantage of her being alone and assaulted her. The victim, who is differently-abled, was threatened and remained silent about the crime for eight months before she finally confided in her family.
A formal complaint was filed in January 2024. Following the complaint, police launched an investigation, collecting evidence and recording statements from witnesses. The court's conviction was based on the investigation report, medical records, and witness testimonies.
In addition to the sentence, the court has directed the District Legal Services Authority to provide Rs 5 lakh in compensation to the victim.
