Sambalpur: A fast-track court on Saturday sentenced the five accused in a May 2 gang-rape case to life imprisonment.

The additional session judge, Sambalpur, Udayabhanu Jena also imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 to each of the convicts. The morning court started at 7am, but the judge delivered the judgement at 10.30pm, after more than 14 hours of court proceedings.

The convicted are Afzal Raja, 25, Tiku Sahu, 24, Hadu Panchbihar, 22, Ashirbad Behera, 26, and Abhilash Panchbihar, 22. The minor involved in the rape case has been sent to the juvenile home in Rourkela and will be tried at the juvenile court there.

The gang-rape of the minor girl - a Class IX student -took place on May 2 and the judgment came within a month. A total of 21 witnesses appeared and were cross-examined in the case. The victim's statement was recorded in presence of first-class judicial magistrate Biswakalpita Mohanty.

Unfortunately, the 15-year-old girl committed suicide on May 23 by hanging herself.

Briefing media persons on Sunday, deputy inspector-general of police Satyabrata Bhoi described the judgement as "historic" and one of the quickest in the state. The arrest was made immediately. The charge-sheet was framed within 15 days from the registration of the case. The district judge was requested to initiate the trial in a fast-track court, he said.

"The sensational event was a challenge for the police and the quickest judgement with life imprisonment will be a warning against the unsocial elements intent to commit such crime in future," Bhoi said. Bhoi praised police superintendent Sanjeev Arora, investigating officers, Jairashi Sethi and Lambodar Pradhan and the government pleaders Artatran Mishra, Santosh Panda and Haramba Chandra Dani who appeared on behalf of the case successfully.

"I am happy and satisfied with the way we have fought the case," said Arora.

On May 2, when the girl was returning from the market, she was taken to the school premises and was raped by two persons. Later, two more persons took her to a different place and raped her. Finding her alone, two more persons raped her.

The following day, she returned home and narrated the incident to her parents, who took her to the Majhipali hospital for treatment. The doctor informed the police, who swung into action and arrested the culprits.