11-year jail term for Kandhamal nun rape convict

A local court today sentenced the prime accused in the Kandhamal nun rape case to 11 years of rigorous imprisonment and awarded 26-month jail term to two others.
Cuttack district sessions court judge Gyana Ranjan Purohit also acquitted six other accused due to lack of evidence.
While convicting Mitu Patnaik alias Santosh Patnaik for rape under Section 376 of IPC, the judge sentenced him to imprisonment for 11 years and a fine of Rs 10,000.
In case of non-payment of fine, the convict would have to undergo additional jail term for six months.
Gajendra Digal and Saroj Badhei, two others convicted in the case under IPC Section 354 (Assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) were awarded 26 months in jail.

Six others, who had been chargesheeted by the Crime Branch along with the three convicted persons, were acquitted due to lack of evidence against them.