Keonjhar: A district and sessions court sentenced four men to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment each on Thursday for the gang rape of a 16-year-old girl in 2020. Three of the accused are aged 24, while the fourth is 26.
They belong to the same village.The verdict was delivered by special Pocso judge Monalisa Mohanty. The court pronounced the sentence based on the testimony of 29 witnesses and police investigation report, and directed the District Legal Services Authority to provide the survivor Rs 10 lakh as compensation.Special public prosecutor Sanjay Paikray said the incident took place on the evening of Dec 29, 2020 when the survivor had gone to meet a male friend.
While they were talking, the four accused allegedly assaulted both of them, took the girl away and gang-raped her.The accused reportedly threatened to kill the minor if she disclosed the incident. The survivor and her family remained silent for two days and finally lodged a complaint on Jan 1, 2021. The police arrested the accused persons and produced them in court. Sub-inspector Anusuya Sethy investigated the case and filed the chargesheet.
