Man gets 20-yr RI for sexually abusing minor

Bhubaneswar: A local court in Bargarh district on Thursday sentenced a man to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment for repeatedly sexually abusing a 16-year-old girl under the pretext of marriage in the Paikamal police station area in 2022. The convict, identified as Saroj Bariha (21), was found guilty under Section 376(2)(n) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Section 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

As per reports, on February 21, 2022, the minor victim appeared at Paikmal Police Station along with her parents and lodged a written complaint alleging that Saroj Bariha of her village had committed sexual assault on her repeatedly for over one year, between February 2021 and January 2022, giving false assurances of marriage.

It further added that when the victim became pregnant, the accused, Saroj, fled away from the village and also switched off his mobile phone. Later, the victim informed the matter to her mother and a village meeting was held on this issue. But the parents of Saroj did not take any step in favour of the victim. She them reported the matter at Paikmal Police Station for taking necessary legal action against Saroj.

Following the registration of FIR, the Bargarh police arrested Saroj on June 27, 2022. After examination of various exhibits and other evidence, the court on Thursday awarded 20 years’ RI to Saroj, holding him guilty of sexually abusing the minor girl.

The court also directed the District Legal Services Authority to provide financial compensation of Rs 11 lakh to the victim under the victim compensation scheme.

In another significant judgment in a POCSO case, a local court in Angul district on Wednesday sentenced a 20-year-old youth to 25 years of rigorous imprisonment for sexually assaulting his sister-in-law’s eight-year-old daughter on August 19, 2024.