A fast track POCSO court in Perumbavoor, Kochi, on Friday sentenced two men for assaulting minors in separate incidents. In the first case, Crystal Raj, 36, who kidnapped and assaulted an 8-year-old girl from her home in Aluva, was handed four life sentences to run for the remainder of his natural life, along with an additional 35 years of imprisonment and a fine exceeding Rs 20 lakh.
Details of the Aluva Case
The incident occurred on September 7, 2023, when the accused kidnapped the girl while she was sleeping in the living room of her house with her brother. Raj, a resident of Chengal, Thiruvananthapuram, was arrested soon after the incident. The judgment was delivered by fast track judge V Sandeep Krishna. Advocate A Sindhu appeared for the prosecution.
Sindhu stated that the prosecution successfully proved all major charges against the accused, including abduction, assault, theft, and grievous sexual assault. She added that the prosecution was able to establish that the assault was premeditated, as witnesses confirmed seeing the accused in the area three days prior to the incident.
Second Case: Assault on Migrant Worker's Child
In a separate case, Najeer Miya, 55, from Bihar, was sentenced to 72 years of rigorous imprisonment for sexually assaulting a 5-year-old girl. The child, the daughter of a migrant worker, was lured away by the accused using a candy. The assault occurred in January 2025.
The court's swift action underscores the judiciary's commitment to delivering justice in cases involving minors. Both sentences are expected to serve as a deterrent against such heinous crimes.
