Cuttack: Upholding the order of a trial court, the Orissa High Court on Wednesday sentenced a man to 20 years of imprisonment for repeatedly raping her sister and impregnating her when she was 14.
Rejecting the appeal of the convict, Justice S K Sahoo also slapped a fine of Rs 40,000 on him. In default, the convict shall undergo rigorous imprisonment for another two years.
The judge lamented that he had to adjudicate such a case on the day of Raksha Bandhan.
“It is both shocking as well as ironical to hear this case and render judgment on an auspicious day when a brother takes the solemn pledge not only to protect his sister but also to nurture her till his last breath,” Justice Sahoo observed.
The man was earlier convicted by the Malkangiri special judge’s court for repeatedly raping his younger sister between May 2018 and May 2019 in their village.
He was also convicted in January 2020 for threatening his sister not to disclose it to others.
The Union Home Minister has alerted the states of the country in the wake of the Indo-Pak War. The Telangana government and police, which were immediately alerted, took preemptive measures. Security has been tightened in Hyderabad.
Thirty-two airports across northern and western parts of the country, including Srinagar and Amritsar, have been closed for civilian flight operations till May 15, according to the civil aviation regulator.
In view of the ongoing high alert across India and intensified security arrangements in Hyderabad and Secunderabad, the city police have issued a ban on bursting firecrackers or fireworks in public spaces, particularly near military cantonment areas.
India responded strongly to Pakistan’s repeated drone and missile attacks and hit at least eight military targets inside Pakistan on Friday night with precision, thereby causing significant damage, the Centre told the media, as part of a special briefing on ‘Operation Sindoor’.