Sambalpur: Northern Range DIG Satyabrata Bhoi today lauded efforts of the Sambalpur Police and district judiciary for completing investigation and judgement in the sensational Sasan gang rape case in record time.
“At a time when Odisha has launched the "Pari Pain Katha Tiye" campaign for spreading awareness on safety of minor girls in the State, judgement in the gang rape case coming in just 30 days is a huge achievement by the district Police, " said Bhoi.
“The credit goes to SP Sanjeev Arora and his team for their hard work in investigating and filing the chargesheet in record time. The judiciary too deserves appreciation for speeding up the trial process to ensure quick justice,” Bhoi said at a presser today.
Awarding of life term to the five convicts will set a precedent and act as deterrent for others with such criminal bent of mind, he stated.
Earlier on Saturday, Additional District Judge, Uday Bhanu Jena, District and Sessions Judge Court awarded life imprisonment to five convicts for raping a 15-year-old girl in Sasana area of the district on May 2.
The judge also imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 on each of the convicts identified as Afzal, Ashirbad Behera, Abhilash Panchbhia, Tinu Sahu and Hadu Panchbhia after a marathon 14-hour long trial on Saturday.
The sentence was prescribed under section 376 D, section 4 and 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) Act.
The girl allegedly raped by six persons including a minor, allegedly committed suicide by hanging herself in her house on May 23.