Phulbani, Sep 13: In a deeply disturbing case, the Phulbani Special POCSO Court has sentenced Harmi Malik to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment for the repeated rape of his minor niece.

The verdict was delivered by Judge Kailash Chandra Swain, who also imposed a fine of ₹16,000. Failure to pay the fine will result in an additional 1 year and 9 months of imprisonment.

The incident occurred on September 1 of the previous year when the minor girl had gone to Daringbadi market to buy clothes. On her way back, she was intercepted by her maternal uncle, Harmi Malik, who offered to drop her home in his auto-rickshaw. Instead of taking her home, he drove her to a forested area near Pangali and repeatedly raped her.

After the assault, the accused dropped the girl near her house and threatened to kill her if she disclosed the incident. The survivor confided in her family, who then filed a complaint at Daringbadi police station. The case was registered under FIR No. 144/24, and the accused was arrested and presented before the court.

Following a detailed trial, the court found Malik guilty under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and awarded a strong sentence. In addition to the jail term and fine, the court directed that the survivor be compensated with ₹6 lakh to aid in her rehabilitation.