Jhansi : A special Pocso court in Jhansi on Tuesday sentenced a 60-year-old man to 20 years’ rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 1 lakh for sexually assaulting a seven-year-old girl in Mauranipur area in May 2024.
Special Judge (Pocso) Mohammad Neyaz Ahmad Ansari convicted Govind Das alias Ballu Kushwaha, a resident of Ganj Ranipur under Mauranipur police station, under Section 5M/6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act and relevant provisions of IPC. The incident took place on May 18, 2024, when the accused allegedly lured the seven-year-old girl to his field on the pretext of playing with her and sexually assaulted her, according to ADGC Vijay Kushwaha. A complaint was lodged at Mauranipur police station on May 24, 2024, following which an FIR was registered under provisions of the Pocso Act.
In case of non-payment of the fine, he will have to undergo an additional three years’ simple imprisonment. When the child returned home in the evening, she narrated the incident to her family. Her six-year-old younger sister who had also witnessed the incident narrated the ordeal to the police. The accused was denied bail and is in jail.
The chargesheet was filed before the special Pocso court.
It also noted that the victim was below 12 years of age and that the offence attracted the aggravated provisions of the Pocso Act. The court, after examining the evidence and hearing arguments from both sides, held that the prosecution had established the charges against the accused.