Synopsis
A local court in Odisha's Keonjhar district has sentenced Jagannath Munda to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment for sexually abusing an 11-year-old girl in 2022, alongside a fine of Rs 10,000. The court also allocated Rs 7 lakh to the victim as financial aid.Key Takeaways
- 20 Years Rigorous Imprisonment
- Victim: 11-Year-Old Girl
- Convict: Jagannath Munda
- Incident occurred in 2022
- Financial Aid of Rs 7 Lakh
Bhubaneswar, March 5 (NationPress) A local court in Odisha’s Keonjhar district sentenced an individual to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment (RI) for the sexual abuse of an 11-year-old girl in 2022.
The perpetrator was identified as Jagannath Munda, also known as Kunu, hailing from the Sadar Police station area in Keonjhar. The court mandated that Kunu pay a fine of Rs 10,000, with the possibility of an additional six months of imprisonment if the fine is not paid.
According to Gyanendra Nath Jena, the special public prosecutor, the accused and the minor victim were from the same village under the Keonjhar Sadar Police jurisdiction. Kunu, familiar with the victim's family, received permission on October 4, 2022 to take the 11-year-old to a nearby village for a fair celebrating Dussehara.
Jena detailed that the accused lured the girl to a secluded area a few kilometers away, where he forcefully sexually assaulted her.
After the incident, he abandoned the minor at the location. When the victim's family inquired about her whereabouts, Kunu falsely claimed she had gone missing at the fair.
The next day, the victim's family learned from her uncle that she was at his residence. Upon arrival, the victim shared her traumatic experience with her mother.
Following a complaint from the family, police apprehended Kunu on October 6, 2022, filing charges under various sections of the IPC and the POCSO Act.
After reviewing testimonies from 19 witnesses and the evidence presented by law enforcement, the court delivered its verdict. Additionally, the court instructed the District Legal Services Authority to provide financial assistance of Rs 7 lakh to the victim.
