Hathras POCSO Court Delivers 20-Year Sentence in Heinous Child Rape Case
A special court designated under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act in Hathras district has handed down a severe punishment, sentencing a man in his early twenties to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment for the repeated rape of his 11-year-old niece. The victim, a Class 5 student, became pregnant as a result of the brutal assault.
Court Condemns Heinous Offence Undermining Societal Trust
While pronouncing the judgment, Special Judge Chitra Sharma strongly condemned the act, stating that the convict had committed a heinous offence against the young girl. "Such crimes undermine trust in society and can lead to a breakdown of social relations," Judge Sharma emphasized, highlighting the grave impact of such violations on the community fabric.
Chronology of the Assault and Investigation
According to Additional District Government Counsel Triloki Sharma, the horrific incident occurred on March 28, 2024. The victim's mother filed a formal complaint on May 1, alleging that the accused had lured her daughter to his house while she was away from her parental home and sexually assaulted her.
In her detailed court statement, the minor victim recounted that the assault took place around 8:45 AM. She had accompanied her brother to her grandmother's house in her mother's native village. From there, a relative, the convict, enticed her to his residence and raped her. The girl testified that the man threatened to kill both her and her brother if she disclosed the crime to anyone. Consequently, she informed her mother almost a month after the incident.
The subsequent investigation included a medical examination, which confirmed the minor was four weeks pregnant. Based on her statement and the corroborating medical evidence, the police filed a chargesheet under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code, including:
- Section 120B (criminal conspiracy)
- Section 376 (rape)
along with applicable sections of the POCSO Act.
Court Proceedings and Final Verdict
After meticulously hearing arguments from both the prosecution and defense, and examining all evidence and witnesses, the court delivered its sentence on Friday evening. The convict, who has been in custody since his arrest, was also imposed a fine of Rs 50,000.
In a related development, ADGC Triloki Sharma noted that a co-accused in the case was acquitted due to a "lack of evidence." This underscores the court's focus on concrete proof while ensuring justice for the grievously wronged victim.
This ruling reinforces the judiciary's stringent stance against crimes targeting children and serves as a stern warning to potential offenders under the stringent POCSO Act.
