Man gets 15-yr jail for sexually assaulting minor

Legal Correspondent

Ludhiana, July 14

The Court of Additional Sessions Judge Ashish Abrol has sentenced Babu Ram (52 years) of Barnala to 15 years in jail on the charges of brutal sexual assault on a seven-year-old girl in the Sudhar area in March 2017. A compensation of Rs 2 lakh was also awarded to the victim.

Pronouncing the verdict, the court held that the prosecution had successfully brought home charges levelled against the accused. The court also declined the plea of leniency raised by the convict, with the observation that the accused had committed an henious crime.

Additional public prosecutor Raman Deep Kaur Gill said a case against the accused was registered on the charges of kidnapping and under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) Act on April 13, 2017, following the statement of the father of the victim.

The complainant had stated to the police that her eldest daughter, who was studying in LKG went missing. After some hours, some passers-by found the girl in a bad condition near some fields and took her to Sudhar Hospital. She was first referred to the Civil Hospital and later, to the PGI. Luckily, she survived. Later, on the basis of the CCTV camera footage, the police traced the accused and produced a charge sheet against him.

During the trial, the accused pleaded innocence. But after appreciating the evidence on record, the court found him guilty and sentenced accordingly.

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