Man sentenced to life in rape and murder of a minor college girl

Balasore: Special Court POSCO Judge Ajanta Sadangi on Thursday convicted a man accused of rape and murder and sentenced him to life imprisonment According to the  prosecution, the  convict  identified as  Pradeep Kumar Acharya, 24, resident of village Chaulachuda under Sadar police station limits, had committed the offence on a 15 year  old  minor girl of Raghunathpali. The victim was then studying in  first year  plus two Arts  in a College on December,10,2014 .

Police said  the  victim girl was pregnant, and the accused killed her when she insisted on marriage.According to the special public prosecutor, POCSO court, Pranab Panda  the accused  had illicit affairs with  the minor  victim girl.

The  judge while  sentencing the accused  to life imprisonment  under various sections of law also awarded Rs 35,000 penalty and  ordered to serve further 21 months  jail  term  in default of the  fine imposed on him.The court pronounced  the award after cross examining 26 witnesses and going through 23 documents.

 The  convict brought the victim to Balasore assuring  her  to marry. He then strangulated her  to death and  hanged  the body on a tree  to create  an impression that   she had committed suicide by hanging.The accused was arrested by the police  and later forwarded to court for trial after being booked under section,302 ,376(i), 6(i)(j)POCSO and 363and 34 of IPC .(UNI)