MUMBAI: Observing that rape completely destroys the whole personality of the victims, a special POCSO court convicted and sentenced a 64-year-old man to 10 years’ rigorous imprisonment (RI) for sexually assaulting the nine-year-old daughter of his employer. The court highlighted that despite the hardships, the parents had come forward and reported the sexual assault.
“The women or girls of the traditional Indian society would be extremely reluctant to admit sexual assault on them and to file the FIR. The girls are afraid that they would lose the love and respect of their near and dear ones. They do not want such incidents to be publicised,” special judge HC Shende said.
The parents and child deposed in the court.
“The present victim and her parents came ahead and stuck to their version, so we have to consider this aspect and cry of the society against such violence against women. Rape completely destroys the whole personality of the victims. It leaves the scar on their mind,” the special judge said.
The court directed the police to help the child get compensation from the government scheme. The accused has been in custody since his arrest on June 4, 2015. The sentence will be set off against the time he spent in jail.
The incident took place on the night of June 3, 2015. The accused took the child out on the pretext of buying her chocolates and sexually assaulted her. The child revealed the incident to her parents who confronted the accused. The accused tried to escape but was caught and taken to the police station.
(The victim's identity has not been revealed to protect her privacy as per Supreme Court directives on cases related to sexual assault)
