Phulabani, The special POCSO court in Phulabani of Kandhamal district has sentenced a 34 year old man to under go 20 years rigorious imprisonment for raping a minor girl,today.The accused identified as Surath behera of Phulabani town police station area.Prosecution sources said during November 2020,the victim a 13 year old girl,while was on her way to meet a friend near ITI in Phulabani,the accused Surath with another man on a scooty reached there.They took her on the scooty assuring to drop at her residence.insted they took her to the forest near Bhetakhal ghat and raped her one after another.Since they threatened for dire consequences,the victim didnot disclosed her ordeal.After around 26 days of the gruesome incident,the victim had been to her aunt`s home and narrated her horrowing experience.The Aunt,subsequently apprised the matter to vitims parents who in December 2020 lodged a complaint with Town police station in Phulabani.Accordingly the PS registered a case and arrested both the accused persons.However,while Surath used to attend the court dates,his accomplice absconded.Meanwhile during hearing the POCSO judge Rajesh dash basing on the statements of 11 witnesses and medical examination report awarded the punishment of 20 years RI and a fine of Rs 20,000/- on Surath,failing which to undergo another six months RI.The court also directed the DLSA to pay a sum of Rs 10 lakhs to the victims as assistance.
