Odisha: Sarpanch fined Rs 60,000 for raping minor

Bhubaneswar: Holding a Khap-like panchayat, village elders’ of Puruna Chimtapalli gram panchayat in Orissa’s Malkangiri district have reportedly imposed a fine of Rs 60,000 on local sarpanch Prahallad Pangi after holding him guilty of repeatedly raping a minor and getting her pregnant, reports said on Friday.

After the villagers came to know about the girl’s pregnancy, they convened the meeting of the elders, which held the sarpanch guilty and pronounced the pecuniary punishment. Of the Rs 60,000, Rs 30,000 shall be paid into the village fund and the remaining Rs 30,000 to the victim’s family as compensation to get married elsewhere.

The 13-year old girl, an orphan, is allegedly four to five months into her pregnancy. “The girl has been raped forcibly. The sarpanch has gone into hiding. Four to five days back, they had held a meeting. He has been fined Rs 60,000. Out of that Rs 30,000 will be deposited in the village fund and Rs 30,000 will be given to the victim’s family,” said the victim’s cousin brother.

The minor girl was staying at her paternal uncle’s house and used to earn her bread by working at sarpanch Prahallad Pangi’s house which was opposite her uncle’s house. She was engaged in construction work at the sarpanch’s house when she was allegedly subjected to repeated rapes.

The accused sarpanch, who has gone absconding since Thursday, has said that since panchayat elections are ahead, he was subjected to harassment on false charges by his political rivals to defame him.