The swift trial concluded in 30 days, with the court also imposing a Rs 50,000 fine on the convict.
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI — A local court in Uttar Pradesh’s Aligarh has awarded 20 years of rigorous imprisonment to a 50-year-old priest for the heinous crime of raping a five-year-old Dalit girl. The conviction and the sentencing were completed in only a month after the formal filing of charges on Sept 25.
The court also imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 on the convict, media reports reaching here on Saturday said.
On July 3, the child’s grandfather filed a complaint with local police claiming that the girl along with her 8-year-old brother had gone to a nearby temple where the priest, who lived there, lured her with a promise of Rs 10 and then violated her in his room. Her brother narrated the crime to his family who along with villagers later confronted the priest and informed the cops.
The girl was sent for medical tests and the accused was charged under BNS Sections 64 (rape), 76 (assault or use of criminal force to woman with intent to disrobe), along with the Pocso and SC/ST acts. The priest was subsequently arrested.
“Following the chargesheet, the court of additional district judge (Pocso), Surendra Mohan Sahay, framed charges and carried out a speedy trial,” Special public prosecutor Mahesh Singh was quoted by Times of India as saying.
The victim’s identity has not been revealed to protect her privacy as per the Supreme Court directives on cases related to sexual assault.
