BENGALURU: A local court in Bidadi, Ramanagara district, has convicted a 25-year-old man, who raped a 15-year-old Odisha girl in 2019, to 10-year rigorous imprisonment.
Amrit Munda, an agent who brings migrant labourers to Karnataka, also has to pay a fine of Rs 20,000.
In 2019, the girl, an orphan and relative of Amrit, was in search of work in Odisha. Promising to get her a job in Karnataka, Amrit brought her to Ramanagara. He provided her a shelter where she was supposed to work. Three days after she joined work, an inebriated Amrit went to her place and raped her. Though the girl was bleeding heavily, he left her there and went back. According to the girl’s statement, Amrit used to come to her place regularly and molest her, multiple times in a day on some occasions.
Unaware of what to do, the girl approached her neighbours who refused to help her saying it was ‘common’ and asked her not to stage any ‘drama’. When Amrit came to know about her complaints, he assaulted her and raped her again. The girl managed to escape from the place and with help from some people, reached the police station.
Ramanagara women police registered a case in March 2019 under sections of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act and Indian Penal Code and arrested Amrit. The girl was sent to a rehabilitation centre. The girl was three months’ pregnant and she underwent abortion. Police filed a chargesheet in April where DNA test reports were produced. Special public prosecutor Shilpa V, who appeared for the girl, said besides her statement, DNA reports played a crucial role in convicting Amrit.
(The victim's identity has not been revealed to protect her privacy as per Supreme court directives on cases related to sexual assault)