A special court on Tuesday sentenced a 42-year-old man to life imprisonment for raping his minor stepdaughter.
The special court in Khonsa designated under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) convicted the man under Section 06 of the POCSO Act “for aggravated penetrative sexual assault,” official said.
According to the prosecution, the convict, a native of Singrap Village in Namsai district, lived at Kharsang in Changlang district with his second wife, two stepdaughters and four sons.
It was alleged that on the day of the incident, the victim, aged around 10 years was playing with her younger stepbrother at their neighbour’s house when the man returned home intoxicated and started to enquire about their whereabouts.
He then went to his neighbour’s house to fetch his stepdaughter (victim) and younger son.
On his way back the man asked his son to go home but he dragged his stepdaughter into a jungle where he later raped her.
The victim later disclosed the incident to her mother after which the miscreant fled from the spot.
As the child was profusely bleeding and suffering from stomach pain, her mother took her to the Kharsang community health centre where the doctors, after examining her, referred the matter to the police.
An FIR was accordingly lodged at the Kharsang police station following which a charge sheet was filed by the police and the man was presented before the court.
On completion of the trial it was proved that the miscreant had committed aggravated penetrative sexual assault on his stepdaughter, an offence punishable under Section 6 of the POCSO Act, officials said.
Special Judge (POCSO) H Kashyap while passing the judgment expressed that “the offence committed by the man is a stain on humanity and human civilization and he deserved no mercy.”
The Khonsa court has further referred the matter to the Changlang district legal services authority for providing adequate compensation to the victim under the Arunachal Pradesh Victim Compensation Scheme, 2011.
