A 24-year-old man has been sentenced to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment by a Pocso court in Sundargarh district, Odisha, for the abduction and repeated sexual assault of a minor girl in 2021. The verdict was delivered on Tuesday by Additional District Judge-cum-Presiding Officer (Pocso) Gyana Ranjan Patnaik.
Fine and Compensation Ordered
Along with the prison term, the court imposed a fine of Rs 30,000 on the convict. Special Public Prosecutor Prabhat Kumar Nanda stated that failure to pay the fine would result in an additional one-year jail term. The court also directed the District Legal Services Authority, Sundargarh, to provide a compensation of Rs 7 lakh to the survivor.
Details of the Crime
According to the prosecution, the 14-year-old girl, a resident of a village in Sundargarh district, was allegedly abducted by a youth from her village on January 23, 2021. Her father traced her the following day in a forest area. A complaint was filed on January 25, leading to the registration of a case and the arrest of the accused on charges of kidnapping and repeated sexual assault.
Accused Evaded Arrest Multiple Times
During the proceedings, the accused was released on interim bail twice but failed to remain available to the authorities. After repeatedly evading arrest, he was finally re-arrested on March 12, 2026, and has been in custody since then. The court noted the gravity of the offense and the need for strict punishment to deter such crimes.
The case highlights the challenges in ensuring justice for survivors of sexual assault, especially when the accused attempts to evade the legal process. The compensation awarded aims to support the survivor's rehabilitation.
