Man sentenced 10-year RI, fine of Rs 26K by POCSO court for raping minor girl

Angul: A special POCSO court in Angul today sentenced a man to 10-year rigorous imprisonment (RI) along with a fine of Rs 26,000 for raping a minor girl. The convict identified as Sushil Naik (26) hails from Central Colony under Talcher Colliery police limits of the district.

In case the fine amount is not paid by convict Naik, he has to undergo imprisonment for an additional period of a year, the POCSO court said.

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According to a source, the minor girl was raped on November 11, 2018, when she was alone at home. Naik barged into her house and threatened the 17-year-old rape survivor. Then he outraged the girl’s modesty. He warned her with dire consequences, in case she reveals the matter to anybody.

Later, after the minor’s elder sister returned home, the victim girl narrated her plight.

An FIR was previously lodged on November 23, 2018 by the rape survivor’s family with Colliery police. Acting on this, the police registered a case (No-335/2018) and launched a probe.

Notably, the special POCSO court decreed after listening to about 15 witnesses and on perusing several pieces of evidence. On the other hand, the court ordered Angul district administration to pay the victim an ex-gratia of Rs 3 lakh. Government lawyer Saroj Pattanayak was managing the case.