SAMBALPUR/JHARSUGUDA: A Jharsuguda POCSO court completed trial and convicted a 25-year-old youth charged with sexual assault of two minor boys within 55 days of registration of the FIR, thereby notching up a record of sorts in justice delivery.
Pronouncing the verdict, Additional District and Sessions Court-cum-Special POCSO Court judge Puja Sarangi on Saturday held Ajit Nag guilty and sentenced him to 25 years of rigorous imprisonment.
The court awarded a fine of Rs 10,000 on Nag, and an additional six months in jail if the fine remained unpaid. The court examined 27 witnesses and reviewed 62 documents before convicting Nag for multiple offences.
The case was registered at Brajrajnagar police station under sections 137(1)(b)/115(2)/351(2) BNS r/w 6 POCSO Act on March 23 this year.
The complainant, mother of one of the victims, had reported that her 11-year-old son was sexually assaulted by the accused on the evening of March 21. The boy was lured to an abandoned building in Haltanki of Brajrajnagar on Nag’s motorcycle where he was sexually assaulted. When he resisted, Nag allegedly assaulted him and threatened to strangle him to death.
The complainant further revealed that Nag had sexually assaulted her son multiple times in the past and also harassed her nephew and other boys from the locality. The accused had previously served jail time for a similar offence.
Nag was apprehended on March 27, just four days after the FIR was lodged and Jharsuguda police submitted chargesheet within 16 days, on April 8.
Jharsuguda SP Smit P Parmar, who was supervisory officer of the case, said, both the victim boys were awarded Rs 8 lakh each as compensation by the court under the Victim Compensation Scheme.
The financial support will aid in their rehabilitation and psychological recovery, he added.
Police attributed the swift judgment to meticulous investigation, employing scientific techniques like DNA analysis to ensure justice.
Parmar said the case sends a strong and clear message that Jharsuguda police will act decisively and relentlessly against crimes targeting children. “The conviction of a repeat sexual predator in record time not only reinforces public trust in the justice system but also sets a model for child protection and fast-track justice delivery across the country,” he added.
The case was prosecuted by public prosecutor Prakash Mohanty and special public prosecutor PR Singhdeo.