Jajpur Town: The Additional District and Sessions Court Judge Abhijit Palai here convicted a youth for raping a nine-year-old girl and sentenced him to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment (RI) Wednesday. The judge also slapped a fine of Rs 70,000 on him and in default the convict has to undergo additional 21 months in jail, the judge observed.
As per the case diary, the convict Prakash Mallick aka Tukulu, 23, of Alakunda Nuagaon village committed the crime August 5, 2022. The minor victim was playing with other students in her school. Due to a headache, she came out of her school when Prakash told the girl that her mother had gone to her aunt’s house and took her with him on the pretext of going near her mother. Prakash then took the girl to a pump house on Pritipur road and raped her. After committing the crime, when Prakash took the girl on his cycle to drop her at home, her family members spotted Prakash with the victim. Prakash after dropping the girl fled from the spot. The girl later told her ordeal before her family members and the mother of the girl lodged a written complaint at Binjharpur police station in this regard.
As per her complaint, a case (469/2022) was registered under sections of IPC 376 (A), (B) and Section 6 of POCSO act, and after arrest police forwarded him to court. Judge Abhijit Palai pronounced the judgement after hearing from 21 witnesses and going through the police investigation report. The judge also ordered the district legal services authority (DLSA) to give away Rs 7 lakh compensation to the victim, said special public prosecutor Rajib Mohanty who was pleading the case from the government’s side.