Shillong: A special POCSO court in Ri Bhoi district, Meghalaya, has sentenced three individuals to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment for sexually assaulting three minors in 2017. The court of the Special Judge (POCSO), Nongpoh, found the trio guilty under provisions of the Indian Penal Code and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, officials said on Thursday.
Along with the jail term, the court also imposed a fine of ₹20,000 on each of the convicts. The crime took place on June 28, 2017, when the accused, in an inebriated condition, sexually assaulted the minors. Police filed the chargesheet in the case on October 23, 2017, after completing their investigation.
The verdict adds to a growing list of convictions under the POCSO Act in the state. Recently, a special court in Khliehriat handed down stringent sentences in a similar case. Sawen Tangliang was awarded 25 years of rigorous imprisonment and fined ₹30,000, while another man was also convicted of sexually abusing a child.
Authorities noted that the strong sentences reflect the judiciary’s resolve to ensure justice for child victims and act as a deterrent against such heinous crimes.
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