5-year-old girl’s statement helps court award man 20 years RI for rape

BAREILLY: A special Pocso court in Budaun found a man guilty of raping a 5-year-old girl and sentenced him to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment on Saturday. “The girl recognised the man through his moustache in court, and her testimony, along with supporting evidence, helped in nailing him,” Amol Jauhari, assistant district govt counsel (ADGC), said.The incident took place in a village in Budaun district on Feb 27, 2023, when the child went to a farm with her mother. Mahendra Kumar, 34, forcibly took the girl, a labourer’s daughter, to a secluded spot and sexually assaulted her while her mother had gone nearby to collect fodder.After the incident, the girl informed her mother about the assault, following which a police complaint was lodged. The man was arrested soon after and has remained in judicial custody since then.

“Mahendra is a native of a neighbouring village where he worked as a labourer. The girl had not seen him before the incident,” the ADGC said.After considering all facts and witness testimonies, the court of additional sessions judge/special judge Pocso Act Neeraj Kumar Garg found Mahendra guilty under section 376AB (rape of a woman below 12 years of age) of IPC along with relevant sections of Pocso Act. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 20,000 on the convict.