Sambalpur, Oct. 8: The district and sessions court here today awarded death penalty to a 35-year-old man for the rape and murder of a seven-year-old girl last month.

The court held Pradeep Dalei guilty on October 1, but the quantum of punishment had not been decided. Public prosecutor Artatrana Mishra said: “Judge B.P. Routray termed the incident as an inhuman act. The accused was convicted in a record 28 days.”

Dalei, a resident of Ramjigudipara in the city, had lured the girl to a fast food kiosk on September 2, while she was playing outside her house at Tamlapara here.

When she did not return home that evening, her family members went to Dalei, who was used to frequent their place, to enquire about her. However, Dalei feigned ignorance about the girl’s whereabouts following which her parents lodged a missing complaint with Town police station.

The next morning, police found her mangled body at Mandlia along Ring Road. They arrested Dalei after the deceased’s mother and two other women alleged that they had seen the girl going with Dalei on his bicycle.

He was remanded to judicial custody for kidnap, rape and murder.

The incident had triggered tension in the city as irate local residents staged protests and blocked the Kunjelpara-Samaleswari Temple Road and Ring Road at Balibandha for over two hours demanding strict punishment against the accused.

The accused was booked under sections 302 (death sentence), 376 (2) (F), 366 and 201 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Under Section 376 (2) (F), the court sentenced him to lifetime rigorous imprisonment with a fine of Rs 7,000. In case of non-payment, he would have to undergo one-and-a-half years more of rigorous imprisonment.

Under Section 366, the court awarded him 10 years of rigorous imprisonment with a penalty of Rs 5,000 and in case of non-payment of the amount, one-year rigorous imprisonment would be added. Under Section 201, he was condemned to five-year rigorous imprisonment with a fine of Rs 1,000.

In case of non-payment, he would have to undergo six months more rigorous imprisonment.

“The local court will send the judgment to Orissa High Court for confirmation after which it would be executed,” Mishra said.

The convict’s lawyer, Shyam Das, said: “We will appeal in an upper court.”