POCSO court in Darjeeling sentences man to 10 years for molesting 3-year-old

Darjeeling: A special (Protection of Children Against Sexual Offences) court in Darjeeling has sentenced a 49-year-old man to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment for sexually assaulting a 3-year-old. The case was disposed off in a record time of 6 months.

"Judge Biswarup Bandopadhyay convicted Ramashanker Shah under Section 4 of POCSO Act to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment. The 3-year-old victim will also receive a compensation of Rs 1 lakh," stated Pranay Rai, Public Prosecutor, Darjeeling.

Incidentally on July 22, 2018, Shah had gone to the house of the victim. The victim's father was his friend and neighbour. Shah had then offered drinks to the victim's father.

When the father was in an inebriated state, he had sexually assaulted the 3-year-old. No one else (other than the father) was present in the house at that time.

Later, the victim, bleeding profusely and in grave trauma, broke down in front of her mother. An FIR was lodged and Shah was arrested immediately. There were a total of 18 witnesses in the case.