Siliguri, 07th October: The POCSO Court in Siliguri has convicted a man in connection with the rape of a 6-year-old girl and sentenced him to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 30,000, with an additional six months of rigorous imprisonment if the fine is not paid.
The accused, identified as Sunil Oraon, was also ordered to pay Rs 6 lakh as compensation to the survivor.
The case dates back to August 2024. According to the prosecution, Sunil Oraon brought the girl from Himachal Pradesh to his home in Kharibari after assuring an acquaintance that he would provide the child with better prospects and education.
On the night of September 29, the accused’s wife, Lakhi Oraon, allegedly saw him sexually assaulting the girl. She subsequently lodged a complaint against her husband at Kharibari Police Station on September 30.
Based on the complaint, police arrested Sunil Oraon under the POCSO Act. During the trial, around 16 witnesses were examined. After nearly two years of proceedings, the court convicted the accused based on the evidence and witness statements presented before it.
Siliguri Court POCSO prosecutor Sunanda Sarkar said the accused had brought the girl from Himachal Pradesh to Kharibari on the pretext of providing her with a better future. She said that after learning about the incident, the accused’s wife contacted a local NGO and the police.
