The special POCSO Court Judge cum Additional Sessions Judge Ajanta Sadangi convicting a 72-year-old rape accused has awarded 10 years rigourous imprisonment (RI) along with Rs 10,000 penalty and in default another three months’ term.
The victim was a minor and differently abled of Kamarda area of Baleswar district and the accused is her distance grandfather. This was a red flag case and probed by the State Crime Branch police. The incident came to light when the minor victim’s mother lodged a complaint with police on September 28, 1994.
The convict, Sashikanta Jena , a retired defence personnel, was physically assaulting the victim for about eight months while her parents were residing outside the State in connection with their jobs.
However, the victim disclosed about the atrocity by the accused to her friends and further, the incident became public. The complainant alleged that the accused was establishing physical relationship with the victim forcibly by threatening her of dire consequences.
The police registered a case under section 376(2)(i) ,506 and 6 of POCSO Act. The special public prosecutor, POCSO court, Pranab Kumar Panda, said, “The court pronounced the verdict after cross examining the witnesses and other relevant evidences. The parents should be careful when they leave their wards alone even with their relatives.”