Photo for representational purpose only. File photo

A 24-year-old man has been sentenced to life imprisonment by a Gurugram court for raping two minor girls. The District and Sessions Court, presided over by Additional District Judge Ashwani Kumar, also imposed a fine of RS 40,000 on the convict, Aadil Ahmad.

In delivering the verdict, the court emphasised the need for maximum punishment in such heinous crimes to serve as a deterrent. Additionally, it ordered the survivors receive compensation in accordance with the Haryana Government's victim compensation scheme.

The crimes occurred on May 13, 2022, when Ahmad abducted the girls, aged four-and-a-half and five years, from their residential colony in Badshahpur. After receiving a complaint on May 14, the local police registered a case under relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

Following the complaint, investigators arrested Ahmad, who was residing in Goga Colony in Gurugram; however, he hails from Dheerpur village in Bijnor district, Uttar Pradesh. Neighbours had rescued the injured girls and rushed them to a local hospital for treatment.

According to reports, Ahmad lured the children with chocolates before taking them to his home, where he committed the assaults. Forensic evidence linked blood stains found on his clothing to both victims and medical examinations confirmed sexual assault.

The court's decision reflects a commitment to addressing such grave offences with appropriate severity and ensuring justice for the victims.