Sexual assault of minor: Convict sentenced to life imprisonment by POCSO Court in Udupi

Team Udayavani, Jun 22, 2022, 8:29 AM IST

Representative Image (Source: Pinterest)

Udupi: A POCSO Court in Udupi found a man guilty of raping a minor and sentenced him to life imprisonment and imposed fines on Tuesday.

The convict, Rajeeb alias Chotu of West Bengal origin was facing charges of abducting and raping a 14-year-old girl belonging to a scheduled caste community.

The incident had taken place in February 2018. Rajeeb who had come to the district as a migrant laborer had kidnapped the girl from her home. The girl’s father had lodged a missing complaint with the police. She was later found at a railway station.

During counseling, the girl narrated how Rajeeb had sexually assaulted her and about 5 others who allegedly helped him. Based on the statement and other evidence police arrested the accused and filed a charge sheet.

On examination of the witness testimony and forensic evidence, the court found Rajeeb guilty of the offense and jailed him for life, and imposed a fine of Rs 56,000 on him. The five others were acquitted of all charges.

The court also ordered the government to pay a compensation of Rs 5 lakh to the victim.