70-Year-Old Farmer Sentenced to Two Decades for Heinous Crime
A court in Agra has delivered a stern verdict, sentencing a 70-year-old farmer from Aligarh to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment for the rape of an 11-year-old girl. The conviction was based on the child's powerful testimony, corroborating medical evidence, and statements from witnesses.
September 2024 Assault: The Tragic Incident Unfolds
The incident occurred in September 2024 when the girl was alone at her home. The convict, who resided in the same locality, entered the house after ascertaining that no adults were present. According to Special Public Prosecutor Raghuvandh Sharma, the man first attempted to lure the child by giving her Rs 100 before sexually assaulting her.
The young victim held her trauma inside until her mother returned home. Her mother, a widow for about four years, works nights washing dishes at wedding functions to support her four children. In her police complaint, the mother detailed that her daughter had momentarily stepped outside, which is when the accused slipped into their home.
The girl finally confided in her mother, recounting how the man gave her money and then assaulted her. Displaying immense courage, the mother confronted the perpetrator the next morning. Instead of showing remorse, he threatened to kill both the mother and the daughter if they took the matter any further.
Legal Process and Final Judgment
Undeterred by the threats, the family filed a formal complaint, leading to the immediate registration of a case. The charges were framed under the stringent section 65(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for the rape of a child below 12 years of age, alongside relevant provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
The accused was arrested swiftly after the complaint was filed and remained in jail for the entire duration of the investigation. Following the submission of the chargesheet, the case was heard in the court of Judge Abhishek Kumar Bagaria.
After a thorough examination of all evidence presented, the court found the man guilty and announced the conviction on Friday. In addition to the 20-year prison sentence, the court imposed a fine of Rs 16,000. The judgment specifically directs that Rs 8,000 of this fine is to be given to the survivor as compensation, a small measure towards aiding her recovery.
