Keonjhar: A fast track court here Monday, sentenced a youth to 10-years of rigorous imprisonment after convicting him for impregnating a 17-year-old minor on the pretext of marriage. The youth was identified as Khageshwar Patra, 29, a resident under Turmunga police limits in the district. Fast track court judge Manas Kumar Mishra also slapped a penalty of Rs 10,000 on Patra, apart from the prison sentence. If he fails to pay, Patra will have to undergo an additional year in prison, the judge observed while delivering the order.
The judge also directed the district legal services authority (DLSA) to provide Rs 4 lakh financial assistance to the victim, special public prosecutor Gyanendranath Jena informed. The judge passed the order under Section-377(2) (N) of the IPC and after examining the statements recorded by 12 witnesses and the forensic report in the case, Jena added.
According to the case diary, Patra lured the minor and entered into a physical relationship with her and raped her over a period of time on the pretext of marriage. When the girl became pregnant, Patra gave her some medicines and terminated her pregnancy. He even threatened her with dire consequences if she disclosed the matter before others.
Left with no option, the girl lodged a complaint at Turumunga police station. Police registered a case, February 5, 2018 and arrested Patra for the offence soon after.
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