A court on Wednesday awarded ten years rigorous imprisonment to a 42-year-old man convicted of raping a minor girl here in 2012.
The Court of 2nd Additional Sessions Judge Srinagar, Renu Dogra Gupta, also imposed a fine of Rs 25,000 to the convict, Irshad Ahmad Malik of Kokernag Anantnag at present Anchar Soura, for the commission of the offence under section 376 RPC.
“In case of default in payment of fine, the accused shall further undergo simple imprisonment for a period of 6 months,” the court said as per the verdict, and ordered him to be lodged in Central Jail Srinagar to serve the sentence. However, the court said, the custody undergone by the convict during investigation, inquiry and trial of the case, shall be set off against the sentence of imprisonment.
According to the prosecution, police received a complaint from the father of the victim that he took his daughter for check up after she complained of abdominal pain and upon tests by the doctors, she was declared to be having child in her womb.
The complainant said that upon enquiry by him and his wife, the minor disclosed that the person who resides in their neighborhood as tenant, Irshad Ahmad Malik, raped her several times.
Subsequently, a case (FIR No 33/2012) under Section 376 RPC was registered in police Station Soura and the investigation culminated into the filing of the chargesheet under Section 376 RPC on 23 June 2012. Subsequently the trial ensued and culminated in conviction of the accused.
“It is established that accused at the time of committing heinous crime of rape with a minor girl who was studying in 4th class, was major married person living with his wife at rented room in neighbourhood of victim who used to go there for playing with younger brother of the accused who was also putting up with them there,” the court had said after hearing the counsel for accused and additional Public Prosecutor Farooq Ahmad Malik. “The accused had gagged her mouth and committed heinous and barbaric crime of rape with her there and also threaten not to disclose the same to anyone,” the court had said while convicting him for the offence under 376 RPC (rape). (GNS)
