Guwahati: In a landmark verdict underscoring the judiciary’s commitment to protecting minors, a local court in Biswanath district has sentenced a couple to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment for the heinous molestation of a minor girl. The District and Sessions Judge of Biswanath handed down the severe punishment to Jiten Bhumij and his wife Monika, marking a significant victory for justice in a case that shocked the local community.
According to the advocate representing the victim, the case involved the molestation of Jiten Bhumij’s 16-year-old niece. It was revealed that while the husband perpetrated the unspeakable act, his wife was found to be an active accomplice, aiding and abetting the crime. Both were convicted under relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. In addition to the extensive jail term, the court also imposed a fine of Rs 15,000 each on the couple, with an additional jail term stipulated in the event of their failure to pay the fine.
Meanwhile, in a separate development highlighting the ongoing crackdown on drug-related offences, a husband-wife duo in Jorhat was sentenced to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment for their involvement in drug dealing. The Jorhat District and Sessions-cum-Special Judge, presiding over a case under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, convicted Bitul and Dipti Borah.
Police sources confirmed the couple’s conviction and the subsequent sentencing. Apart from the decade-long rigorous imprisonment, Bitul and Dipti Borah were also fined Rs 1,000 each. The court further stipulated an additional one-month jail term for each, should they default on the fine payment, sending a clear message against the pervasive issue of drug trafficking in the region.