POCSO court sentences man to 8 years RI for raping 8-year-old girl

Sundargarh: Special POCSO court in Sundargarh sentenced a man to eight years of rigorous imprisonment (RI) today along with a fine of Rs 5,000 for raping an eight-year-old girl.

The convict was identified as Alekha Patra from Baunrakela locality under Bonai police limits in the district.

As per the case, father of the minor rape survivor is a Gupchup (a kind of street food) vendor. He was selling the food item on July 14, 2016 on a cart at a place in the village along with his daughter, who was assisting him. It had started raining heavily on the intervening evening.

Following which, the accused covered the minor under his umbrella. Later, he promised to drop the girl at her home and the ill-motivated man raped her on the way inside the nearby school premises.

As the victim girl had not returned home for quite a long time, her family members launched a frantic search for her at all probable locations. After they reached the school, the accused Alekha ran away from the spot leaving the girl alone. The girl was then rescued by the family members.

Alekha was arrested the next morning under POCSO Act and the case was registered.