Angul POCSO Court Convicts Man in Rape-Murder of 4-Year-Old as Sentencing Reports Conflict

Overview

• The Special POCSO Court in Angul, which delivered its verdict Friday, convicted 40-year-old Babula Jena under India’s new criminal code and the child-protection law for raping and killing a girl aged 4 years 10 months.
• Coverage diverges on punishment, with IANS and PTI reporting a death sentence while OrissaPOST says a separate hearing will determine the sentence.
• Police said the case rested on DNA testing, forensic lab reports from Bhubaneswar, multiple scene examinations and witness accounts gathered by the Angul team.
• Investigators recounted that the child disappeared on March 13, 2025, her body was found on March 15 under a mahua tree near home, and the post-mortem cited neck compression and sexual assault.
• The court also triggered Rs 10 lakh victim compensation through the District Legal Services Authority, offering near-term support for the family as sentencing or any appeal proceeds.