The Additional District Judge and POCSO Court presided by Justice Basudeb Acharya sentenced Sagaram Gond, a resident of Pokhanapara village under Raighar police limits, to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment for repeatedly raping a mentally challenged minor girl in 2015.
The case, registered under Raighar Police Station Case No. 149/15, revealed that the 15-year-old victim became pregnant following repeated sexual assault by the accused, who had promised marriage but later abandoned her. The court relied on the testimony of 11 witnesses to deliver its verdict.
Alongside the prison sentence, the court imposed a fine of Rs 5,000. Failure to pay the fine would result in an additional three months of imprisonment. Furthermore, the judge directed the District Legal Services Authority to provide Rs 1 lakh as compassionate compensation to the survivor.
Public Prosecutor Sachi Nandan Swain represented the government in the case. The verdict has been hailed as a strong message against crimes targeting vulnerable minors.
