A special court in Mahabubnagar district has delivered a stern verdict, sentencing a 47-year-old farmer to two decades of rigorous imprisonment for sexually assaulting a minor girl. In a separate but related incident, Khammam police arrested a 40-year-old man on charges of viewing and distributing child pornography.
Mahbubnagar Court's Stern Punishment Under POCSO Act
The Special Court for cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act pronounced its judgment on Wednesday. The court found Chintlapally Sattayya, a farmer hailing from Kothur village in Bhoothpur mandal, guilty of the horrific crime committed on May 23, 2023.
Apart from the 20-year rigorous imprisonment (RI) sentence, the presiding judge also imposed a monetary fine of Rs 10,000 on the convict. In a significant move aimed at supporting the survivor, the court directed the authorities to provide her with a compensation of Rs 5 lakh.
Investigation and Police Action
The case was originally registered by Bhoothpur sub-inspector Bhaskar Reddy. During the trial, the prosecution presented a strong case, examining a total of eight witnesses to secure the conviction.
Reacting to the judgment, District Superintendent of Police D. Janaki emphasized a zero-tolerance policy towards such crimes. She stated that strict and decisive action will continue to be taken against individuals involved in offences against children, sending a clear message about the consequences of such acts.
Khammam Police Nab Man in Child Pornography Case
In a parallel crackdown on crimes targeting children, the Khammam Police Commissionerate made an arrest on Thursday. Police Commissioner Sunil Dutt announced the arrest of V. Niranjan Kumar (40).
The accused was taken into custody for allegedly watching and sharing child pornography content. Police officials revealed that Kumar's illegal activities were detected through proactive monitoring of his social media activity, showcasing the use of digital surveillance in combating such heinous crimes.
A Strong Message Against Child Exploitation
These back-to-back incidents in Telangana highlight the ongoing challenges in protecting children from sexual exploitation and abuse. The severe sentence in Mahabubnagar underscores the judiciary's commitment to enforcing the stringent provisions of the POCSO Act. Simultaneously, the arrest in Khammam reflects increased vigilance by law enforcement agencies in the digital space to curb the distribution of abusive material.
The actions demonstrate a multi-pronged approach involving the police, judiciary, and special courts dedicated to POCSO cases, all working towards creating a safer environment for minors.
