In a significant ruling that underscores the judiciary’s zero-tolerance stance on crimes against women, a district and sessions court in Mayurbhanj has sentenced three youths to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment for gangraping a young woman in 2021.
According to court records, the incident took place in the Baishinga area when the accused abducted the woman from near the National Highway and dragged her into a nearby forest. The gruesome crime, which sent shockwaves through the region at the time, prompted swift legal action.
The case was built on the basis of testimony from 17 witnesses, which convinced the court of the accused’s guilt. The presiding judge of the Sessions Court emphasised the seriousness of the crime and termed the judgment a necessary deterrent against such brutal acts.
This verdict is being viewed as a step toward restoring public faith in justice delivery, especially in cases of gender-based violence in Odisha’s tribal districts. Local residents have welcomed the ruling, calling it long overdue.
