Shillong: In a significant stride towards safeguarding the rights and well-being of children, the Special Judge (POCSO) Court in East Jaintia Hills District has pronounced robust judgments in two distinct cases concerning crimes against minors.
The court, underscoring its commitment to justice, has also mandated a total compensation of Rs 5.50 lakh for the young survivors, offering a ray of hope for their rehabilitation.
In the first case, Shambhu Ray was handed a stringent seven-year imprisonment under the Juvenile Justice (Care & Protection) Act, following his conviction for offences against a minor. The court additionally imposed a fine of Rs 30,000 on Ray and, crucially, directed him to pay a substantial Rs 4 lakh as compensation to the young survivor. This case, which originated from a complaint at Khliehriat Police Station, saw meticulous investigation by Sub-Inspector D.D. Warjri, culminating in a chargesheet filed in July 2023.
The second conviction saw Peitlang Ilamon receiving concurrent prison terms of four and three years under Sections 8 and 12 of the POCSO Act, respectively. Special Judge B. Khriam further ordered Ilamon to pay a fine of Rs 20,000 for each section, with a clear directive that failure to pay would result in an additional one month of simple imprisonment. The minor survivor in this particular case was awarded Rs 1.50 lakh in compensation, acknowledging the trauma endured.
Ilamon’s case, initially registered at Khliehriat Women Police Station in August 2021, was diligently investigated by WP-Inspector O. Tyngkan. The thoroughness of the investigation was evident as a chargesheet was swiftly filed in October 2021, highlighting the local law enforcement’s efficiency in handling sensitive cases. The East Jaintia Hills District police have reiterated their commitment to meticulous investigations, asserting that such dedicated efforts were pivotal in securing these vital convictions.