Srinagar, Feb 18: A court in Sopore, north Kashmir, has sentenced a prayer leader, Aijaz Ahmad Sheikh, to 14 years in prison for raping two minor boys. Sheikh was convicted under Section 377 of the Ranbir Penal Code (RPC) for committing unnatural offenses.
The Chief Judicial Magistrate, Mir Wajahat, sentenced Sheikh to seven years of rigorous imprisonment for each of the two offences. A fine of Rs. 50,000 was also imposed for each offence. If Sheikh fails to pay the fine, he will face six months of simple imprisonment for each default. The sentences will run consecutively, meaning Sheikh will serve a total of 14 years in prison.
In addition to the prison sentence, the court ordered that Rs. 45,000 from the fine be paid as compensation to each of the victims (PW3 and PW8). However, this compensation does not stop the victims from seeking further legal action against Sheikh.
The case dates back to March 2, 2016, when one of the victims’ fathers filed a complaint. The case was filed under FIR No. 22/2016. Advocate Ayesha Zahgeer, who assisted the prosecution, confirmed that Sheikh will serve 14 years in prison for his crimes.
The court stated the seriousness of the offense, noting that Sheikh used his position as a religious leader to exploit the minors. It also highlighted the psychological harm the victims suffered. The court agreed with the prosecution’s call for a strong punishment, saying it would help deter similar crimes.
The court referred to previous legal rulings that support consecutive sentencing and noted that the delay in reporting the crimes did not affect the victims’ credibility. This case underscores the importance of justice for sexual offence victims and the legal system’s commitment to addressing such crimes.
