A 30-year-old daily wage laborer has been sentenced to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment for the kidnapping and rape of a 15-year-old schoolgirl in Aligarh, in a verdict that highlights the judiciary's strict stance on crimes against minors.
Court Delivers Justice After Four-Month Ordeal
The Special Court operating under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act delivered the landmark judgment on Tuesday. Presiding Officer Judge Abhishek Kumar Bagaria not only imposed the two-decade prison term but also levied a fine of Rs 18,000 against the convict, a resident of Sambhal district.
According to Additional District Government Counsel Mahesh Singh, who spoke to media representatives, the court directed that Rs 10,000 from the fine amount be provided to the survivor as compensation for the trauma she endured.
Four Months of Captivity in Himachal Pradesh
The case originated in August 2021 when the victim's father filed a formal complaint stating that his daughter, a Class 12 student, had left for school at 7 am but failed to return home by evening. The concerned family visited the educational institution, where authorities informed them that the girl had departed early after submitting a leave application citing illness.
When the minor remained missing despite extensive searches, the situation grew increasingly alarming for her family. The breakthrough came only on December 20, 2021, when police personnel located the victim at Aligarh railway station, nearly four months after her disappearance.
Survivor's Harrowing Testimony in Court
During court proceedings, the young survivor provided a chilling account of her ordeal. "I met him on the way. He covered my face with a scarf and took me somewhere. He kept me in a room. He abused me, beat me and sexually assaulted me," the girl stated in her testimony.
She detailed how she was held captive for approximately three and a half months before being brought to the railway station. "When he saw the police, he ran away. The police caught me and recorded my statement," she added, describing the moment of her rescue.
Legal Process and Final Judgment
Based on the initial complaint and the survivor's powerful testimony, authorities registered a case under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code including Section 363 (kidnapping), Section 366 (abduction for forced marriage or illicit intercourse), and Section 376 (rape), along with relevant provisions of the POCSO Act.
Following a thorough investigation, the accused was apprehended and a chargesheet was filed. The Special Court examined all evidence and witness statements before delivering the guilty verdict on Tuesday, bringing legal closure to a case that had shocked the local community.
The 20-year rigorous imprisonment sentence demonstrates the judiciary's commitment to applying stringent punishment under the POCSO Act for crimes against children, sending a strong message about zero tolerance for child sexual abuse in India.
