Man gets 10-yr RI for raping teen in Kandhamal

Berhampur: A special Pocso court in Kandhamal district on Wednesday sentenced a 26-year-old man to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment for raping a 17-year-old girl last year.Additional district-cum-special judge Manoranjan Das also imposed a fine of Rs 52,000 on the convict. "The convict would undergo an additional eight months in jail if he fails to pay the fine," said special public prosecutor Asim Praharaj.The court also directed the district legal services authorities to pay a compensation of Rs 5 lakh to the survivor. "The court pronounced its verdict after examining and recording the statements of 15 witnesses, including police, doctor, and verifying some other relevant documents," Praharaj said. The convict raped the girl while she was returning home after witnessing a winter festival on Jan 13 last year. After sexually assaulting her, the man left her near an isolated place. She was rescued by a relative. The next day, she narrated her ordeal to her family members. Her mother lodged an FIR on Jan 17. Police registered a case under various sections of the IPC and Pocso Act and arrested the man. The man was in jail since his arrest.