POCSO court in Siliguri sentences convict to 20 years in sexual assault case after 9 years

Siliguri, 06th May: In a significant judgment, a Special POCSO Court in Siliguri has sentenced a convict to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment in a sexual assault case that dates back nine years. The court also directed compensation of ₹3 lakh to the victim.

According to case details, the incident occurred on 21 October 2017, when the accused, a 52-year-old neighbour identified as Ram Bhagat, allegedly lured a 4-year-old girl with chocolates and took her to a secluded place, where he committed the offence.

After the incident, the child informed her family, following which a complaint was lodged at the local police station. Acting promptly, police arrested the accused within a few hours and produced him before the court. However, he was later released on bail and subsequently absconded before being re-arrested.

During the trial, the court examined nine witnesses along with medical reports and the charge sheet submitted by the investigating officer. Based on the evidence presented, the accused was found guilty.

Government lawyer Sunanda Sarkar stated that after a prolonged legal process spanning nine years, justice has finally been delivered to the victim.

The court also imposed a fine of ₹30,000 on the convict, with an additional six months’ imprisonment in case of non-payment of the fine.

The verdict is being viewed as a strong message against crimes targeting women and children, reinforcing the importance of strict legal action in such cases.