Five get 10-year RI for gang-rape

SAMBALPUR: Four years after an MCA student of Sambalpur University was gang-raped on February 23 and 24, 2008, the ADJ (Fast Track), Ashok Kumar Panda sentenced five persons to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment (RI) on Friday.Although the police had filed three separate cases in the incident, hearing of two was taken up on Friday while the judgement in the third case reserved till Monday.Disposing the first case, Panda awarded 10 years RI and a fine of Rs 5,000 to Kapilas Senapati, Md. Anwar, Sayed Munir and Abdul Arman for their involvement in gang-rape of the victim at Deer Park area of Sambalpur town on February 24. They have to undergo an additional three months imprisonment in case of default of payment of fine. In the second case, Panda convicted Sanjit Behera and sentenced him to 10 years RI and a fine of Rs 5000 besides another three years RI and Rs 2,000 fine.However, both the sentences will run concurrently and the accused has to undergo additional three months of imprisonment in default of payment of the fine. Besides Behera, a juvenile identified as Trinath Behera was also involved in the gang-rape of the victim at Ainthapali on February 23 evening. But he has already been awarded three years of sentence by the juvenile court.