Bhubaneswar: Nearly a decade after a 15-year-old girl was set ablaze in Odisha’s Kalahandi district, a special court has sentenced the prime accused to life imprisonment, bringing closure to an investigation led by the state crime branch.The additional sessions judge-cum-special court convicted Tumeswar Das, alias Bulu, in connection with the 2017 murder of the minor. The court found him guilty under Section 302 (murder) and awarded rigorous imprisonment for life.A total compensation of Rs 1.1 lakh has been directed to be paid to the victim’s parents. According to the crime branch, the incident occurred on Jan 11, 2017, after the victim and her family confronted the accused over alleged obscene remarks made against the girl. Later that evening, the accused and a juvenile allegedly entered the victim’s house in the absence of her parents, gagged her, poured kerosene on her and set her on fire. She sustained 95% burn injuries and later succumbed to them.The case was transferred to the CID crime branch on Jan 14, 2017. Investigators collected scientific evidence and filed a chargesheet. “The conviction reflects the crime branch’s commitment to ensuring justice in heinous crimes against women and children. The verdict sends a strong message that such offences will be dealt with utmost severity,” said a senior crime branch officer.
