J’khand man gets 30-yr RI for raping minor niece

RANCHI: A local court in Bokaro district has awarded 30 years’ rigorous imprisonment to a 29-year-old man after he was found guilty of raping his minor stepniece for two months when her parents were stuck in Uttar Pradesh due to the Covid-19 lockdown last year.

Awarding the punishment on Wednesday, special judge of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) court, Janardan Singh, also slapped fine of ₹1 lakh on the convict after a trial that lasted six months.

“The court held the accused guilty of the crime under Section 6 of POCSO Act and awarded him 30 years’ rigorous imprisonment. The accused has also been held guilty under Section 376 (2) of Indian Penal Code and Section 8 of POCSO,” said special public prosecutor SK Jha.

As per the prosecution, the FIR in this case was lodged on June 19, 2020 with Chas Muffasil police station. The crime was committed when the 17-year-old survivor, along with her two younger sisters, shifted to her maternal uncle’s home in Bokaro district during Covid-19 lockdown in 2020.

In her complaint, the survivor mentioned that her parents last year went to Muradabad in Uttar Pradesh to finalise her marriage, but got stuck due to the lockdown. Following this, the survivor’s parents called her maternal uncle and asked him to take the children to his house.

The accused lived with his mother, wife and children.

“The survivor charged that one day, finding her alone, the accused intoxicated her by giving her a soft drink laced with sedatives and raped her. He continued to molest her, and threatened her of dire consequences. It was only when her father and stepmother returned home that she narrated her ordeal,” said Jha.