Ganjam Man Receives Life Sentence for Heinous Crime Against Child
A special Pocso court in Berhampur has delivered a stern verdict, sentencing a 26-year-old man to life imprisonment for the brutal sodomy and murder of a four-year-old boy in Ganjam district. The horrific incident occurred three years ago, and the court's judgment brings a measure of closure to a tragic case that shocked the local community.
Court Imposes Fine and Compensation in Landmark Ruling
Additional district-cum-special Pocso court judge Pranati Pattnaik not only handed down the life sentence but also imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 on the convict, who was identified as a distant relative of the young victim. The court specified that failure to pay this fine would result in an additional year of imprisonment. Special public prosecutor Narayan Panda confirmed these details, highlighting the legal consequences faced by the perpetrator.
In a compassionate move, the court directed the district legal services authorities to provide Rs 2 lakh in compensation to the parents of the deceased child. This decision was made in recognition of the severe mental trauma and profound loss suffered by the family due to the gravity of the offence.
Gruesome Details of the Crime Emerge from Court Proceedings
The court's judgment was based on a thorough examination of evidence, including statements from 17 witnesses, such as police officials and medical professionals, along with detailed medical reports. According to sources, the convict committed an act of unnatural sex with the four-year-old boy on the roof of a house on January 24, 2023. Fearing that the child might disclose the crime, the man then brutally thrashed the boy to death using an iron door from an under-construction house.
During a frantic search, the parents discovered that their child had been with the convict on the roof. They soon found the boy lying in a pool of blood on the rooftop. He was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, but doctors declared him dead upon arrival, confirming the tragic outcome of the assault.
Legal Process and Arrest Following the Incident
The father of the deceased promptly lodged a First Information Report (FIR) with the police. Within a day of the incident, law enforcement authorities arrested the man under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act. Narayan Panda noted that the convict had been in jail since his arrest, as his bail plea was earlier rejected by the court, ensuring he remained in custody throughout the legal proceedings.
This case underscores the critical role of the Pocso Act in addressing crimes against children and delivering justice in such severe instances. The court's comprehensive approach, combining punitive measures with victim compensation, sets a precedent for handling similar cases with the seriousness they deserve.
