The Sundargarh Special POCSO Court has sentenced three accused in the 2018 Lahunipada minor gang‑rape case to life imprisonment.
Each convict has also been fined Rs 20,000, with an additional one‑year jail term in case of default.
The court directed the District Legal Services Authority to provide Rs 7 lakh compensation to the survivor as relief assistance. The verdict comes after years of trial in a case that had shocked the region with its brutality.
The judgment underscores the judiciary’s firm stance against crimes targeting minors, reinforcing the deterrent provisions under the POCSO Act.
