OUR CORRESPONDENT
ITANAGAR: A special POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) court at Yupia on Monday sentenced a 30-year-old man to three years of rigorous imprisonment for sexually harassing two minor girls by showing them pornographic content and making repeated explicit advances.
The convict, Nabam Tadik of Apopsango village under Sagalee circle in Papum Pare district, was found guilty under Section 354A (2) of the Indian Penal Code. Alongside the jail term, Special Judge Dr Hirendra Kashyap imposed a fine of Rs 5,000 on the convict, with a provision for an additional month of simple imprisonment in case of default.
The court observed that Tadik had not only engaged in sexually inappropriate behaviour with the minors, aged around 6 and 11, but also maintained an illicit relationship with a woman related to the victims. In one instance, the younger victim reportedly escaped further assault by inflicting self-injury.
During the sentencing hearing, Tadik’s counsel pleaded for leniency, citing his background as a graduate in civil engineering from Anna University, Chennai. It was also submitted that he was the sole caretaker of his elderly and infirm father and had no prior criminal record. The defence said Tadik was recently married and deeply remorseful. However, the prosecution, led by Special Public Prosecutor K Bagra, strongly opposed the plea, arguing that the nature and frequency of the offence warranted no clemency. Bagra told the court that the facts established in the trial clearly indicated repeated sexual misconduct.
The court ruled that Tadik’s conduct did not merit any benefit under the Probation of Offenders Act or Section 360 of the CrPC. It also noted that the convict had attempted to delay trial proceedings by taking a “frivolous plea of alibi” and displayed no genuine signs of reform.
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