Jalpaiguri, 25th April: The special POCSO court in Jalpaiguri has sentenced a man to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment in connection with the rape of a minor in the Banarhat police station area. Judge Rintu Sur delivered the verdict on Friday.
According to Assistant Public Prosecutor Debashis Dutta, the incident occurred in July 2023 when a relative of the minor allegedly raped her. Following the complaint, the police arrested the accused, and a case was filed under the POCSO Act.
The court heard testimonies from seven witnesses in the case. After reviewing the arguments, the accused was found guilty and sentenced to 20 years in prison.
Additionally, the court imposed a fine of Rs 50,000, with a two-month additional imprisonment in case of default. The Legal Service Authority has also directed a compensation of Rs 5 lakh to be paid to the victim.