Odisha man gets 20-year jail term for raping minor girl

Baripada: The Children’s Court here today sentenced a person to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment for raping a minor girl in Thakurmunda area of Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district in 2015.

The court also imposed a fine of Rs 5,000 on Bailochan Mahanta (31), the convict. He will undergo an additional imprisonment of seven months in the case of non-payment of the fine amount.

Bailochan’s two associates Bailochan Behera and Purusottam Mahanta, who were also involved in the crime, were awarded three years of rigorous imprisonment by the court. A fine of Rs 1,000 each was imposed on the two and they will have to undergo one month of additional imprisonment if the duo fails to pay the amount.

According to reports, the three had raped the 15-year-old girl at a forest in Thakurmunda area on September 11, 2015. A police complaint was lodged in this regard on September 12 and the accused were arrested under Section 376 of IPC and relevant sections of POCSO Act.

Adjudicating the case, Justice V. Sujata pronounced the verdict today. As many as 13 witnesses were cross examined during the trial.