Phuyoba village Head GB sentenced to life imprisonment for rape

Dimapur, Sep. 15 (EMN): The Court of Special Judge, Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act has sentenced 51-year-old Vesurayi Medeo, Head GB of Phuyoba village under Phek district, to rigorous imprisonment for life for raping a minor.

The accused, grandfather of victim by marriage and serving as Head Gaon Bura (GB) of Phuyoba since 2009, was convicted and sentenced to rigorous imprisonment for life (which means imprisonment for the remainder of natural life) and a fine of INR 10,000 for commission of rape and aggravated penetrative sexual assault upon a minor for offences under Section 376(2)(f) IPC and Section 5(m)(n), 6 of POCSO Act.

He is also convicted of committing sexual assault, penetrative sexual assault and sexual harassment upon the minor in the latter’s bedroom under section 8, 10 and 11 of POCSO Act, according to the court verdict. He has also been convicted for trespassing and breaking the bedroom door of the victim under section 457 of IPC.

 The judgment stated that from the time the bedroom of the victim was separated sometime in March 2021 till the time he was caught breaking the bedroom door of the victim on January 7, 2022, there was no “missing link” in the chain of circumstances to hold the accused guilty of committing rape and aggravated penetrative sexual assault more than once.

“It was therefore expected from the accused who is a father figure to the victim girl child that she should have been treated with love and care. Not only being father figure but he is also the Head Gaon Bura(GB) of Phuyoba Village since 2009.He was therefore expected to work in public interest and honour the trust reposed on him by doing justice to all. Accused instead strayed from the path of virtue by committing rape and aggravated penetrative sexual assault more than once and repeatedly on the victim girl child,” it read.

In default of payment of fine, the accused will further undergo imprisonment for a term of two years.

The judge further sentenced the accused for commission of sexual assault and aggravated sexual assault upon the victim to a period of rigorous imprisonment of five years and a fine of INR 3000 or in default of the payment of fine simple imprisonment of six months. For the commission of sexual harassment upon the victim, the accused was sentenced with imprisonment for a term of six months and a fine of INR 1000 or in default of the payment of fine simple imprisonment of one month.

For the commission of trespassing and entering the bedroom of the victim and also breaking the victim’s bedroom door to commit the offence of rape and aggravated penetrative sexual assault, the accused was sentenced with imprisonment for a term of one year without fine.

The jail sentences will run concurrently and out of the total fine amount of INR 14,000 deposited by the accused, INR 10,000 will be immediately paid to the victim to meet the medical expenses and rehabilitation, the order stated.

The judgment also directed the state government to pay a total amount INR 5,00,000 as compensation for the relief and rehabilitation of the victim to be made within 30 days from the date of receipt of the judgment.