Phulbani, Sept 12: A Special Fast Track POCSO Court in Odisha’s Phulbani on Thursday sentenced a youth to 20-years of imprisonment for the rape of a 14-year-old girl.

POCSO Court Judge Kailash Chandra Swain delivered the verdict based on the statements of 17 witnesses and the medical report. The court has also directed the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) to provide compensation of Rs. 6 lakh to the victim.

The case was prosecuted by government advocate, Banamali Behera.

The court also imposed a fine of Rs 16,000 on the convict, identified as Hermi Mallick (27) of Pangali village under Daringbadi police limits in the district.

The verdict stipulated that a failure to pay the fine would result in an additional jail term of one year and nine months.

According to reports, the incident took place on September 1 when the 14-year-old victim was on her way to the Daringbadi market to buy clothes and the accused lured her into an auto-rickshaw, promising to drop her off at the market.

However, he took her to the Pangali jungle and repeatedly raped her there.

He later threatened the victim, saying that he would kill her if she discloses the matter before anyone. Later, he dropped her near the village in the auto-rickshaw and left. Thereafter, the victim narrated her ordeal to her family, following which a written complaint was lodged at the Daringbadi police station.

Acting on the complaint, the police registered a case and arrested the accused, who was produced in the court.