BASAR, Aug 22: The Court of the Special Judge (POCSO)-cum-Additional District & Sessions Judge, Basar, in Leparada district, has sentenced a 24-year-old man to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment for kidnapping and repeatedly sexually assaulting a minor girl.
The judgment was pronounced on August 21 by Special Judge (POCSO) Jaweplu Chai in POCSO Case No. 02/2024, arising out of Daporijo Police Station Case No. 22/2024. The accused, Deepak Debnath, was convicted under Section 363 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Section 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012.
According to the case records, Debnath, who was working as a cook at a restaurant in Daporijo, kidnapped a 13-year-and-eight-month-old girl from New Market, Daporijo, on March 19, 2024. He subsequently took her to Dumporijo and confined her at different locations, including a local hotel and rented accommodation at Fishery Colony, where she was subjected to repeated sexual assault.
The incident came to light after the victim’s mother lodged an FIR at Daporijo Police Station on March 25, 2024. Acting on the complaint, a police team led by Sub-Inspector T Kaye traced and rescued the minor and apprehended the accused.
After examining the evidence presented during the trial, the Special Court found that the victim was a minor at the time of the incident and that the prosecution had established the offences against the accused beyond the required legal threshold.
For the offence under Section 363 IPC, the Court awarded five years’ imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 3,000, with an additional six months’ imprisonment in default of payment. For the offence under Section 6 of the POCSO Act, the convict was sentenced to 20 years’ rigorous imprisonment and fined Rs 20,000, with an additional one year’s imprisonment in default.
The sentences have been directed to run concurrently.
In a significant direction concerning the welfare and rehabilitation of the child, the court ordered that the fine amount, upon realization, be disbursed directly to the minor victim for her rehabilitation in accordance with Section 6(2) of the POCSO Act. The period already spent in detention during investigation and trial will also be set off against the sentence as per law.
Special Public Prosecutor (POCSO) Karken Angu represented the State during the proceedings and assisted the prosecution in securing the conviction.
The convict was also informed of his right to appeal before the higher court and his entitlement to legal aid for pursuing such proceedings.
The judgment underscores the stringent legal consequences for offences against children and highlights the importance of timely reporting, effective investigation and coordinated law-enforcement action in ensuring justice and protecting vulnerable children.