Odisha Fast-Track Court Imposes Death Sentence in Brutal Pocso Rape Case
A fast-track Pocso court in Berhampur, Odisha, delivered a landmark verdict on Thursday, awarding the death penalty to a 30-year-old man for the horrific rape of a 10-year-old girl and his subsequent attempt to kill her. This case, which dates back five years in Ganjam district, has been described by the judiciary as one of the "rarest of rare" instances, underscoring the severity of the crime.
Second Death Sentence in Three Months for Pocso Offenses in Odisha
This ruling marks the second time in just three months that an Odisha court has imposed the death penalty in a Pocso case. Previously, on January 6, a Bargarh court sentenced a man to death for the rape and murder of a minor girl in November 2024. The recurrence of such extreme punishments highlights the state's stringent stance against crimes targeting children.
Special Public Prosecutor Siba Prasad Mishra emphasized the gravity of the Ganjam incident, stating that Justice Rohit Lal Panda deemed it deserving of the highest penalty after meticulously recording statements from 13 witnesses. Mishra asserted, "Such a heinous crime deserved to be treated as the rarest case," reinforcing the court's commitment to justice for the victim.
Details of the Heinous Crime and Recovery Process
According to sources, the accused was a distant relative of the survivor. On September 21, 2021, he lured the young girl with chocolate and took her to an isolated location. There, he subjected her to rape and then attempted to strangle her to death, leaving her unconscious in a desolate area.
Fortunately, children playing nearby discovered the girl and alerted her family. She was initially admitted to a local hospital before being transferred to MKCG Medical College and Hospital, where she spent nearly a month in the paediatric intensive care unit. Her recovery, though arduous, stands as a testament to her resilience amidst the trauma.
This case serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing efforts to combat child sexual abuse under the Pocso Act, with courts increasingly adopting severe measures to deter such atrocities.
