A special Pocso judge in Kendrapada on Wednesday sentenced a 57-year-old man to three years of imprisonment for molesting an 11-year-old girl from a village in the district four years ago. The girl was in class V when the incident took place.
Court Verdict and Fine
Judge Prangya Paramita Raula imposed a Rs 5,000 fine on the convict, failure to pay which would result in his sentence being increased to three months.
Background of the Incident
The incident came to light following an FIR lodged by the minor’s mother at the police station on November 1, 2022, alleging that on November 30, the accused entered their house in an inebriated state and molested her daughter. The girl’s younger brother tried to prevent the situation but the accused assaulted him. He threatened the sibling with death if they disclosed the incident to anyone.
Legal Proceedings
Acting on the FIR, police arrested the accused under IPC section 452 and the Pocso Act. “Pronouncing the verdict, the judge convicted the accused to three years of imprisonment for outraging the modesty of the minor girl, after relying on the evidence of seven witnesses, including the victim girl,” said Nehru Kumar Sahu, special public prosecutor of the court.
The case highlights the stringent measures under the Pocso Act to protect minors from sexual offenses. The court’s decision underscores the importance of swift justice in such sensitive cases.
