Bhubaneswar: In a swift and decisive judgment, a Special POCSO court in Bhubaneswar on Thursday sentenced a man to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment for the rape of a 13-year-old girl. The court concluded the trial and pronounced the verdict just 37 days after the horrific crime was committed.

The convict, identified as Muna Behera, was also fined Rs 50,000 by the court. Furthermore, in a significant directive, the court ordered the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) to provide a compensation of Rs 6 lakh to the survivor.

The crime dates back to the evening of September 2 this year. According to the case records, the survivor was on her way to participate in the Khudurukuni Puja in the city’s Chandaka area when Behera forcibly took her to a secluded spot and raped her.

Acting pro

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