Child's rapist-killer walks out of jail after 22 yrs due to good conduct

Rourkela: A man serving life term for the rape and murder of a five-year-old girl in 2002 was released from Rourkela Special Jail after 22 years owing to good behaviour under the Odisha govt's premature release policy.

Purna Chandra Kusal (48), who was initially sentenced to death, walked free on Wednesday. He and another rapist were among three convicts serving life term who were released from Rourkela jail. Across Odisha, a total of 30 prisoners were released on Wednesday under the govt policy.

"These convicts who were undergoing rigorous life imprisonment were released under the premature release policy," said Priyajit Mangua, assistant jailor, Rourkela Special Jail.

The crime was committed in Rourkela on Children's Day in 2002. The girl's mother had left her at home while she went to sell coal at a nearby market. Upon returning some 20 minutes later, she found her daughter missing. The child's body was later found on the railway tracks between two bogies. Post-mortem reports revealed the minor had been raped and then choked to death.

Kusal, who lived in the neighbourhood, was arrested on Nov 18. The additional sessions judge court in Rourkela awarded him death sentence in Dec 2004. While the high court upheld the sentence, the Supreme Court commuted it to life imprisonment in July 2011.

Prison authorities said that during his incarceration, Kusal, who has lost vision in one eye, demonstrated exemplary behaviour and was elected as a ‘panchayat' member by fellow inmates four times, most recently in 2022-23. "His conduct towards co-inmates and staff was satisfactory, and he showed remorse for his actions," said a jail official.

Among others released from Rourkela jail was 45-year-old Md Babu, who was serving life term for rape. Babu was convicted in 2005. According to jail authorities Babu demonstrated good behaviour throughout his prison term and was elected seven times as ‘panchayat' member by fellow inmates. He also served as a night watchman and in the jail canteen.

The case dates back to Sept 11, 2004, when Babu and an accomplice robbed and sexually assaulted a woman near Jharsuguda railway station. The victim, who had alighted from Alleppy-Bokaro Express train, was travelling with her would-be brother-in-law in a cycle rickshaw when the incident took place. Babu was arrested on Sept 14, 2004, and was initially held at Sambalpur Special Jail. On Dec 23, 2005, the additional sessions judge, Jharsuguda, sentenced him to life imprisonment. He was subsequently transferred to Rourkela Special Jail.

The third convict released from Rourkela Special Jail was Hemanta Kisan (40), a resident of Masina village under Hemgir police station limits in Sundargarh district. He was convicted for the murder of his elder brother in 2008 and had spent 16 years in prison.