A Special Fast-Track Court at Phulbani in Kandhamal district has sentenced a man to rigorous imprisonment for seven years for raping a girl after promising to marry her a year ago.Assistant Session and Special Fast Track Court Judge A N Maharana while convicting Kailash Bahuka of Nabaguba village yesterday also imposed a fine of Rs 20,000 for the offence committed in May last year.In case of non-payment of the penalty amount, the convict would have to undergo additional three-month jail term, additional public prosecutor Pratap Patra said.A day after the incident, the 20-year-old victim of Saranggarh village lodged a complaint at Phulbani Sadar police station, accusing Bahuka of raping her at a place on the outskirt of Phulbani town on a promise of marriage.

Bahuka, who had fled after committing the crime, was subsequently arrested.The court delivered the verdict in the case on the basis of various evidences and statements of 15 witnesses, the Patra said.