Justice finally caught up with the crooks as fast track court on Wednesday sentenced three accused involved in the infamous Jhaliamari Tribal Girls Hostel rape case to life term. The court also slapped Rs 500 penalty on each of them besides asking the State Government to pay Rs 1.05 crore compensation to the 15 minor victims.
Meanwhile, both ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and Opposition Congress leaders hailed the decision of the court and expressed satisfaction over the speedy justice delivered to the victims.
Notably, on January 20 this year the abominable episode of serial rape with minor inmates of tribal girls Ashram had come to light. In the hostel, located some 20 km away from district headquarters Kanker, more than 30 innocent minor tribal girls were pursuing education. When an inmate suddenly died of abnormal swelling in her abdomen during treatment, the incident caught the attention of district collector Alermel Mangai D who dug in to the serial rape which was going on for quite some time and the perpetrators were none other than the keepers and teachers of the hostel. Acting quickly, the collector activated batteries of district and tribal development department officials and ensured that the crooks were put behind the bars within a week even as the case also exposed the inactive attitude of tribal development department as well as other officials of the district.
According to probe report Shikshakarmi Mannulal Goti and guard Dinanath Nagesh in collusion with Ashram Warden Babita Markam were quenching their carnal appetite for last three years. After arrest of the accused the case was put up before the fast track court in which statements of 90 witnesses were recorded. On October 30 afternoon, the court finally found three accused guilty of the abominable act and sentenced Goti and Nagesh to life term.
They were also charged with fine of Rs 500 to each of them whereas Hostel In-charge Babita Markam was also sentenced to life term for colluding in this abhorrent episode and slapped Rs 500 fine as well. The court also sentenced Sagar Katlam to 3 years jail term, Sukaluram Netam to 3 years jail term, lachchhuram Salam to 3 years ter, S S Naverji, block education officer to 5 years jail term and Jitendra Nayak, Assistant Block Education officer also to 5 years jail term. All these accused have also been slapped Rs 500 fine each.
The court also asked the state government to pay Rs 7 lakh each to the 15 innocent victims as compensation.