Kendrapada: A Jajpur court on Saturday sentenced a 25-year-old man to 20 years of imprisonment for raping a 17-year-old girl two years ago.The additional district & sessions-cum-special Pocso court also imposed a Rs 5 lakh fine on the convict, with an additional one-year jail term if he fails to pay it. The judge directed the Odisha State Legal Services Authority (OSLSA) to provide Rs 2 lakh compensation to the survivor.Judge Abhijit Palei convicted the accused under Section 6 of the Pocso Act for raping the then Plus II student on Sept 30, 2024, in a forest. The survivor’s mother had lodged a complaint, alleging that the accused dragged her daughter into the forest and raped her. Police arrested him soon after.Altogether 13 witnesses, including the survivor, deposed in court. “Based on their statements and the medical report, the court awarded the 20-year sentence,” said Pratap Ray, special public prosecutor.
