Odisha court sentences five to life in Sambalpur gang rape case

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Sambalpur, Aug 25:

The District and Sessions Court of Odisha’s Sambalpur today sentenced five persons to life imprisonment for gang raping a college student in 2014 and circulating Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) clip of the act.

District and Session Judge Dipti Mohapatra awarded life imprisonment to Bishnu Kisan, Prashant Dandasena, Ranjan Oram, Muna Oram and Jaya Mangala Pradhan under Sec 376 (D) of IPC.

In addition to that they have been sentenced to four years rigorous imprisonment (RI) and Rs 2 lakh fine each under the IT Act. On failure to pay the fine they have to undergo another two years of RI, the court ruled.

Similarly, another accused Sunil Mirdha has been sentenced by the court to three years RI and a fine of Rs 2 lakh for abetment of the crime.

Besides, accused Samir Pradhan has been acquitted by the court while another accused, a minor is facing trial at the Juvenile Justice Board.

Notably, in 2014 on July 22 a Plus II girl student of a local college of Sambalpur accompanied by her boyfriend had gone on a trip to Jamadarpalli area in an auto-rickshaw.

While the couple was busy in chatting, the auto-rickshaw driver Jayamangal Pradhan went to Jamadarpalli village and informed his friends about the incident.

Following which Jayamangal Pradhan along with his friends from Jamadarpalli-Bishnu Kisan, Prasant Dandsena, Ranjan Oram, Munna Oram and others threatened the couple on different accounts.

Later after thrashing the girl’s boyfriend they tied his limbs and raped the girl. Besides, one of the accused filmed the act on a mobile phone.

Further, with the help of a mobile phone shop owner Sunil Mirdha they made a MMS clip of the video and blackmailed the couple and extorted money from them.

Later in the same year on October 18, the accused persons circulated the MMS clips following which the victim revealed the matter to her parents who lodged a complaint with the Mahila Police Station.