Jajpur, April 17 -- A special POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act) court in Odisha's Jajpur district sentenced a youth to 20 years of imprisonment in connection with his involvement in the rape of a 15 year-old girl two years back.

The court also imposed a fine of Rs 20,000 on the convict. Special POCSO court judge Abhijit Palei also directed the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) to give Rs 2 lakh compensation to the survivor.

According to Public Prosecutor Rajib Mohanty, the accused youth Ganeswar Jedy had lured the minor, a Class 9 student at the time of crime, into a relationship in Dharmasala in 2023. After convincing her to elope with him on the false assurance of marriage, Ganeswar had taken the minor t...