Hyderabad: 54-year-old given 12 year prison sentence for raping minor

In Hyderabad, Telangana a 54-year-old man has been convicted of raping a 4-year-old girl and was sentenced to 12 years of "rigorous imprisonment" by a court in Nalgonda on Monday. The court has also imposed a fine of Rs 10,000. The Court of First Additional District Judge at Nalgonda has convicted the accused Abbaraboina Krishna for raping the minor.

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Accused lured her to his room by offering chocolates

According to police, the incident took place on January 26 when the parents of the victim went for their work while the girl was playing outside her residence. Meanwhile, the accused lured her to his room by offering chocolates and subsequently raped her. An FIR under the relevant section of the law and POCSO Act was lodged at Bhongir Town police station following which charge-sheet was filed in the Court after investigation.

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6.20 lakh sexual offenders were listed in the national database

The Parliament on August 2, had passed a bill that provides for stringent punishment for sexual crimes against children and the death penalty in cases of aggravated sexual assault. The Lok Sabha passed the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill, 2019. The bill seeks to amend Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012. It had been passed by Rajya Sabha earlier. Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani had said then that 6.20 lakh sexual offenders were listed in the national database and they were being tracked by investigative agencies. She also expressed concern that the number of juvenile perpetrators of crimes is increasing.

Irani had further said the government was working to create 1023 fast track courts under the Nirbhaya fund to provide quick justice in cases of crimes against women. She had said the bill will protect the interest of vulnerable children in times of distress and ensure their safety and dignity.

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1,023 fast-track special courts

The Union government had proposed to set up a total of 1,023 fast-track special courts for expeditious trial of over 1.66 lakh pending cases of crime against women and children across the country. Each of these special courts is expected to dispose of at least 165 such cases per year, said a proposal by the Department of Justice under Union Law Ministry. A total of 1,023 FTSCs will be set up, out of which 389 courts, as per a Supreme Court direction, will exclusively handle cases registered under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, it said. The remaining 634 FTSCs will deal with either rape cases or both rape and POCSO Act cases depending upon the pendency and requirement.

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(With inputs from ANI)