KalingaTV News Network
Sambalpur: In a landmark judgment given in a record time, a special court set up under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) in Odisha, life sentence was awarded to five in sensational Sasan gang rape case of Sambalpur on Saturday.
After a Marathon hearing which was made by ADJ Santosh Panda and lasted for around 15 hours, the court also sent another juvenile who was involved in the case to correction home and slapped a fine of Rs 50,000 on each accused for the offence.
The accused have been identified as Afzal Raza, Tinu Sahu, Hadu Panchabihar, Ashirvad Behera and Abhilash Panchabihar. They have been found guilty under Sections 376 of the IPC and section 4 and 5 under POCSO Act.
The incident took place on May 2 when the victim, a 14-year-old girl, was returning to home from Sasan Market after some work. She was first dragged to the veranda of a nearby school by the juvenile accused and was raped. The accused was later overpowered by four passers-by who sexually assaulted the girl for hours taking to different place on the same day.
The incident came to light after the victim girl lodged a police complaint in connection with the case. Sambalpur Police completed its investigation in record 15 days and filed the chargesheet. However, it failed to prevent the victim from committing suicide and she killed herself on May 23 at her rented house in fear of public shame.
Meanwhile, the defense counsel Pritiranjan Patnaik has decided to challenge the order in the Orissa High Court.
Ms Kalinga