After a court order, an undertrial prisoner (UTP) lodged in the Jharpada Jail for allegedly raping a girl, married the rape victim here on Wednesday. Accused Dillip Behera (32) alias Dilu of Kateni village on the outskirts of the city was sent to jail for raping a 22-year-old girl in February last year. After hearing a joint petition filed by both the families, Khordha Additional Session Judge Ananda Chandra Behera on January 22 had directed the jail authorities to solemnise the marriage on January 28.
The court had also directed the authorities to produce evidence of marriage on January 30. After the marriage, the victim of Mendhasala area near the city said that she agreed with the marriage proposal after she was convinced that Dillip would take good care of her. Besides, she said marriage would give them social recognition. Dillip’s lawyer Prafulla Kumar Sahoo said that his client’s family and the victim’s family forged a compromise and filed a joint petition in the court. After the jail authorities submit the documentary evidence of the marriage, the court will deliver its verdict in the case, he added.