A Srinagar man has been sentenced to 20 years of imprisonment by a fast-track court under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act for sexually assaulting a minor.
The convict had connected with the victim through Facebook, later meeting her near her tuition center in Bemina.
In 2020, he lured the victim to his home and coerced her into a physical relationship.
The Presiding Officer, Aarti Mohan, stated that while there was no evidence of extreme brutality or forced abduction, the repeated assaults led to the victim’s pregnancy, which later miscarried.
The court considered both aggravating and mitigating factors, determining that the minimum punishment of 20 years would be appropriate for justice.
In addition to the sentence, a fine of ₹25,000 was imposed, with an additional six-month imprisonment if the fine is not paid.
The court also awarded interim compensation of ₹300,000 to the victim during the trial but noted this was insufficient.
An additional ₹300,000 was ordered for the victim’s rehabilitation due to her mental, physical, and financial trauma.
The District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) in Srinagar was directed to forward the victim’s case to the State Legal Services Authority for further action.
The accused, previously on bail, was ordered into custody immediately and transferred to Central Jail, Srinagar.
The case dates back to December 3, 2020, when the victim’s father filed an application under Section 156(3) Cr.P.C., alleging the kidnapping of his minor daughter by the accused.
An FIR (No. 223/2020) was subsequently registered under Sections 363, 342, and 506 of the IPC.