4 youths convicted of gangrape

PHULBANI: Four youths were sentenced to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment by the Assistant Session Judge, Phulbani, for raping a minor girl. They are Saroj Sahu, Prasana Lenka, Dipu Swain of Phulbani town and Pratap Digal of Tilakpada village.They had abducted the girl of Sunakadu village under Phiringia police limits in October, 2010. The girl was waiting for a bus at the Tilakpada square bus stop, 10 km from Phulbani town, along with two other girls to go to her village. The three had come to the village to witness Dussehra festivity.During the hearing, the victim stated that the accused gangraped her at Bhetkhol ghat and after the crime, they left her near Government Girls High School at Phulbani.After hearing the witnesses and going through the medical report, the Judge convicted the accused to 10-year rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 1,000 each. And on default of payment of fine, they would undergo an additional three months of rigorous imprisonment.