Naga septuagenarian sentenced to 20 years for raping minor

Dimapur, Sep. 6 (EMN): The court of special judge, Protection of Children against Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, Phek district on Tuesday sentenced 76-year-old Kuripra Veswuh to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment for sexual assault on a minor girl.

The incident took place on July 28, 2021 and a first information report (FIR) was filed against Veswuh on Aug. 1, 2021.

According to the court ruling, the accused was convicted for penetrative sexual assault with rigorous imprisonment for a term of 20 years and fine of INR 5000. In default of payment of fine, the accused would further undergo simple imprisonment for a term of one year.

The judge further sentenced the accused for commission of sexual assault upon the minor for three years  rigorous imprisonment and a fine of INR 1000 or in default of the payment of fine, simple imprisonment of six months.

The accused was also charged for outraging the modesty of the girl child victim with imprisonment for a term of six months and fine of INR 500 or in default of the payment of fine, simple imprisonment of one month.

 Also, for commission of sexual harassment upon the victim, he was sentenced to six months of imprisonment and fine of INR 500 or in default of the payment of fine, simple imprisonment of one month.

The judgment stated that the jail sentences would run concurrently and out of the total fine amount of INR 7000 deposited by the accused, INR 5000 would be immediately paid to the victim.

In the judgment, the special judge, POCSO held that being next door neighbours and having cordial relations, no element of motive to falsely implicate the accused was established.

"....Prosecution is able to prove the foundational facts that the accused committed rape and penetrative sexual assault upon the victim girl and there is no iota of evidence from the defence side to explain that he had no culpable mental state..."it read.

 While pronouncing the sentence, the special judge held that "…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 as she is staying in her aunt's house for study purpose. Instead, the accused committed an unforgivable act of committing rape and aggravated penetrative sexual assault on her".

The judgment also applauded the state government for granting INR 4 lakh on account of victim compensation scheme sanctioned by the Home Department, Relief and Rehabilitation, Government of Nagaland as interim relief.

The judgment also appreciated the timely action of Lucy Doungel, Unarmed Branch Inspector, which helped the state government in bringing justice to the vulnerable section of the society.