Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Sundargarh for Raping Minor Girl

Sundargarh: A Special POCSO Court in Sundargarh has sentenced a man to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment for the rape of a nine-year-old girl in the Hemagiri area in February 2023.

The convict, identified as Kuna Pradhan, was also fined ₹20,000 by the court. Failure to pay the fine will result in an additional one year of imprisonment.

In its judgment, the court also directed the District Legal Services Authority to provide an ex-gratia compensation of ₹7 lakh to the victim’s family.

The verdict underscores the court’s firm stance against crimes involving sexual violence against minors under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.