Paralakhemundi Court Hands 20-Year Sentence in Minor Rape Case
The Special Judge (POCSO), Paralakhemundi, has sentenced Bamidi Balu alias Bala to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment for raping a 14-year-old girl.
The judgment, delivered in TR Case No. 13/2024, also imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 for the rape conviction and an additional three years of imprisonment with a Rs 1,000 fine for kidnapping.
In default of fine payment, the convict will serve an extra six months and three months of imprisonment respectively.
The court further directed the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) to provide Rs 4 lakh compensation to the victim.
The incident occurred when the girl was returning home from her coaching centre.
The accused forcibly kidnapped her in a car, took her to a nearby temple, and committed the assault before abandoning her near the ORT garage.
A local resident noticed her condition and alerted her father, who rescued her and reported the matter to the police.
The case was investigated by SI Panchanan Behera under the supervision of SDPO Madhabananda Nayak. Special Public Prosecutor R. Janardan Rao represented the prosecution and secured the conviction.
This judgment underscores the judiciary’s firm stance against crimes under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, ensuring justice and compensation for victims.
