Jalpaiguri, 30th August: In a significant judgement, the Jalpaiguri’s Special Court under POCSO Act has sentenced the accused to 25 years of rigorous imprisonment for raping a minor. The convicted individual, identified as Tariful Islam, is a resident of Maynaguri in Jalpaiguri district.
According to reports, on Friday, Judge Indiwar Tripathi of the Special Court in Jalpaiguri pronounced the sentence after exclusive trials of the accused Tariful Islam. The case dates back to December 12, 2020, when an 11-year-old girl from a village in Maynaguri block was sexually assaulted.
The victim was with her brother and a few others, collecting tea leaves and flowers near their home. The accused intimidated the group by claiming that the owner of the tea garden was approaching. As a result, the group fled, leaving the victim alone. Tariful Islam then took advantage of the situation, dragged the minor into the tea garden and sexually assaulted her. Meanwhile, the victim’s brother witnessed the incident and immediately informed their family.
Subsequently, the victim’s family arrived at the scene where the minor was left unconscious and rescued her. Meanwhile, the accused was seen fleeing the scene. The victim was taken to the hospital for treatment, and a report was filed against the accused, leading to his immediate arrest. The routine medical examination of the minor confirmed the sexual assault and the case was forwarded to the district court.
After a prolonged legal battle, the district court has now sentenced the accused to 25 years of rigorous imprisonment. In addition, the court has imposed a fine of Rs 50,000, with an additional one-year imprisonment if the fine is not paid. Assistant Public Prosecutor Debasish Dutta stated that a total of eight witnesses testified in the case. The court also directed the District Legal Services Authority to provide the victim with Rs 4 lakhs as a form of compensation.