Two get 20-year RI for gang rape of tribal woman in Odisha’s Keonjhar

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Keonjhar, Feb 23:

A local court in Odisha’s Keonjhar today sentenced two persons to 20-years of rigorous imprisonment (RI) for gang raping a tribal woman last year.

Pronouncing the quantum of punishment, Champua Additional District and Sessions Judge Dr Pabitra Mohan Samal sentenced the two persons to 20-year jail term and imposed a penalty of Rs 5000.

The convicted were identified as Biswanath Gop and Deben Munda.

The two had raped a deserted tribal woman on February 24 last year in mineral-rich Keonjhar district, which had created a resentment across the state with social activists seeking justice for the victim.

The judge awarded the punishment of imprisonment for 20 years after hearing 17 witnesses.

“Hearing the gang rape case, Judge Dr. Pabitra Mohan Samal pronounced 20 years rigorous imprisonment to both under section 376 (b),  three years jail term for trespassing under section 457; one year for intimidation and threatening to kill under section 506 of Indian Penal Code (IPC) in concurrent with the 20 year jail term,” said Public Prosecutor Madhusudan Pati.

The convicts have also been fined with Rs 5000 each. The penalty money will be paid to the victim as compensation, he added.