A POCSO Court in Odisha’s Angul district on Friday sentenced a man to death for the rape and murder of a 4-year-old girl. The capital punishment was pronounced by Additional District Judge-cum-Special Court under the POCSO Act, Angul, Judge Soumya Priyadarshini.
The convict, 40-year-old Babula Jena of Jereng village under Jarpada police station in Angul district, was arrested for the brutal assault and killing of the minor girl (4 years 10 months), a resident of Industrial police station in the district.
In a statement, the Odisha Police said, “The court found the accused guilty beyond all reasonable doubt for offences under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) with Section 6 of the POCSO Act.”
The prosecution detailed that the tragedy began on March 13, 2025, when the minor victim went missing while playing outside her home. After unsuccessful searches by family and neighbours, she could not be traced, following which her father lodged a complaint at the Industrial Police Station on March 14, 2025.
The child’s body was discovered the following morning, March 15, under a tree near her house. A post-mortem examination confirmed the cause of death as neck compression and provided evidence of forcible penetrative sexual assault, according to police reports.
Under the supervision of Angul Superintendent of Police, Rahul Jain, the investigation was lauded for its exceptional speed. Authorities moved quickly to secure the crime scenes and gather evidence against the suspect.
Babula Jena was identified and apprehended on March 17, 2025, just four days after the crime occurred. He was forwarded to the court the following day, marking a rapid transition from the incident to legal proceedings.
“The investigation involved meticulous spot examination across three crime scenes, scientific and forensic evidence collection, witness examination, DNA sampling, confessional statement of the accused, and recovery of incriminating articles,” the police said.
Odisha DGP, Y B Khurania, commended the Angul SP and the investigating team for their diligence. He noted that achieving a death sentence within a year of the arrest serves as a significant testament to the efficiency of the state’s justice system in handling heinous crimes.
