Minor gangrape: Rayagada court acquits three

Rayagada: The District and Sessions Judge court today acquitted three accused in a January 2013 gangrape case of a minor girl.

After examining statements of 19 witnesses, the court ordered to free Pradip Bhatar, Malik Koshala and Bharat Khosala from criminal charges.

S. Baburao, Defence counsel, said, “The court acquitted the 3 accused after an argument on the dying declaration of the victim and Section 164 of the IPC.”

Rayagada ADJ Court special public prosecutor S.H. Srinivas Rao said after a consultation with higher-ups, a decision on whether or not to move an application in the higher court will be taken.

Out of the four accused in the gangrape case, one was a juvenile when the crime was committed and trial on his involvement is on in the Orissa High Court.

On January 2, 2013, while returning home, the minor girl was abducted and gang raped. The next day the victim poured kerosene and set herself afire.

She was admitted to the Rayagada hospital with 80% burn injuries and later shifted to Care hospital in Vishakhapatnam where she succumbed to the burns on January 15, 2013.