Alfaaz – The Words Desk
Srinagar: The Court of Principal District & Sessions Judge Kupwara recently convicted a man under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and rewarded him with ten years of rigorous imprisonment.
The convicted person Barkat Ali Magray of Kandi Khaas undergoing trial, vide sections 7/8 POCSO Act and sections 377, 511 IPC, was held under FIR number 269 of 2021.
Sentencing the convicted man to ten years of rigorous imprisonment, the Coram Shazia Tabassum, said that the ‘object of awarding the appropriate sentence is to protect the society and to deter the criminals by imposing appropriate sentence in consideration of the sentence to the accused in the light of his prior criminal record his age, home and prospect of his returning on the normal path of conformity with the law, the material on the file has to be examined to help award just punishment.’
The Coram further remarked that the convict has usurped upon the innocence of the victim child and no lenient view, as pleaded by the Defence council, apply to the case in hand.
“… I find it appropriate to award the sentence of 5 years rigorous Imprisonment to the convict for the commission of offence under section 7 of POCSO Act, punishable under section 8 of the POCSO Act and rigorous imprisonment of 5 years for the commission of offence under section 377, read with 511 IPC. The convict shall further pay a fine of rupees one lac in default of which the convict shall further undergo a simple imprisonment of six months. The fine if realised shall be paid to the victim child,” the Coram directed.
“The convict shall furnish the undertaking on his release after serving the sentence that he shall in no manner reveal the identity of the victim child and in future shall not harass the victim or his family, in any manner,” the Court directed.
Notably, the then SI Mushtaq Ahmad Sheikh, now Inspector, played a notable role in bringing the culprit to justice.