The Special POCSO Court in Padmapur, Bargarh district, on Monday delivered a historic judgment in a highly sensitive case involving the rape and brutal murder of a six-year-old minor girl, sentencing the accused, Prashant Bag alias Bariha, to death along with life imprisonment.
The court also directed payment of Rs 15 lakh as financial assistance to the deceased minor’s family.
The case pertains to an incident on November 15, 2024, in Soda village under Paikmal police station limits in Bargarh district. The accused allegedly raped the minor girl and murdered her in a gruesome manner. A complaint was registered at Paikmal police station the same day.
The investigation was conducted under the direct supervision of Bargarh SP Prahlad Sahai Meena (IPS). Then Paikmal Police Station IIC Mamata Nayak led the probe, while Public Prosecutor Dyutish Acharya represented the state in court.
Police employed advanced scientific methods, including DNA analysis and forensic evidence, to build a strong case. The court examined statements of 37 witnesses and relied on conclusive evidence to convict the accused under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) — 140(1), 103, 65(2), and 66 — as well as Section 6 of the POCSO Act.
In a statement, Odisha Police Headquarters highlighted that the swift investigation and trial exemplify the strengthened criminal justice process following the implementation of new Indian criminal laws, resulting in higher conviction rates in crimes against women and children.
Director General of Police Y.B. Khurania congratulated Bargarh SP, the public prosecutor, and the investigating team, expressing satisfaction over the increased pace of investigations and convictions under the new legal framework.
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