BALURGHAT: The Special POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) Court of South Dinajpur on Thursday sentenced two men to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment for raping a minor girl. The convicted individuals have been identified as Masud Karim Mondal and Ainur Mondal. The verdict was delivered by Judge Saranya Sen Prasad.
Public Prosecutor Ritabrata Chakraborty stated: “The incident occurred on December 20, 2019, when a 15-year-old girl was sexually assaulted. The accused were found guilty by Judge Saranya Sen Prasad and sentenced them to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment under Sections 6/18 of the POCSO Act. They were also fined Rs 10,000 each, failing which they will face an additional six months of simple imprisonment.” Additionally, the court directed a compensation of Rs 2 lakh to be provided to the victim.
According to the prosecutor, a case was registered on December 22, 2019, following the incident. The accused allegedly intercepted the girl while she was returning home, dragged her into a bush and committed the crime. Based on the victim’s statement, the police arrested the duo and the trial commenced.
The victim’s family expressed relief and satisfaction over the judgment. A family member said: “Those two men committed this heinous act against our minor daughter. We immediately filed a complaint with the police, leading to their arrest and trial.”