Phulbani, Oct 29**: The Phulbani Fast Track POCSO Court on Wednesday sentenced five men to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of ₹26,000 each for the gang-rape and robbery of a 14-year-old girl in Kandhamal district.
Judge Kailash Chandra Swain convicted the accused—Ashok Mukhi (24), Sushant Nayak (29), Kripakar Mukhi (47), Jerah Nayak (33), and Joseph Rupamajhi (25)—based on statements of 18 witnesses, medical evidence, and TI parade. Non-payment of fine will add five more years in jail.
The incident occurred on April 24, 2024, at 9:30 pm. Masked accused entered the victim’s house in Firingia area, looted ₹50,000 cash, gold jewellery, and three mobiles at gunpoint, posed as Naxalites, dragged the girl to a nearby field, and raped her. They threatened to kill her and her family if she resisted.
FIR No. 107/30.04.2024 was registered at Firingia PS. SI Deepak Raut arrested the accused. Special PP Vanamali Behera prosecuted the case.
The court also ordered the District Legal Services Authority to pay ₹6 lakh as compensation to the survivor.