Sambalpur: In a significant ruling, a special court in Sambalpur, Odisha, has sentenced a 22-year-old man to 30 years of rigorous imprisonment for the rape of a six-year-old girl.

Judge Abhilas Senapati of the Special POCSO court found the accused guilty under various sections of the POCSO Act and imposed a fine of Rs 50,000.

Additionally, the court mandated that the authorities provide Rs 13.5 lakh as compensation to the victim to aid her recovery.

The crime took place on April 27, 2024, when the young girl was attending her uncle's wedding with her family. Reports indicate that around 8 PM, the perpetrator lured her into a nearby forest and assaulted her.

The girl was discovered in a serious condition and was promptly taken to a hospital for treatment.

After a lengthy trial lasting 14 months, the POCSO court delivered its verdict, as confirmed by public prosecutor Santosh Panda.