Silchar: The Special POCSO Court in Cachar, presided over by Judge Narayan Kuri, on Thursday sentenced two men to five years’ imprisonment for molesting a 17-year-old girl. The convicted individuals, Didarul Islam (40) of Tarinipur Part II and Bahar Uddin Raj Barbhuiya (35) of West Gobindapur Part III, were both found guilty under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
The incident occurred on September 10, 2017, when the minor boarded an auto-rickshaw from Chourangi around 10 a.m. to visit a relative in Fulbari. Didarul was driving the auto while Bahar Uddin was travelling with him. During the ride, the two men allegedly began to harass the girl near Gobindapur ME School. When the girl protested and raised an alarm, the duo reportedly threatened her and later pushed her out of the moving auto. The girl managed to escape and sought shelter in a nearby house. The accused, meanwhile, fled the scene with the vehicle.
Later that day, the victim’s family lodged an FIR at Katigorah Police Station, prompting a police investigation. The accused were identified and subsequently charged after the completion of the investigation. On July 17, the Special Court found both men guilty under Section 8 of the POCSO Act and sentenced them to five years of rigorous imprisonment, along with a fine of ₹20,000 each. In case of non-payment, they will serve an additional six months in jail.
They were also convicted under Sections 506 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code for criminal intimidation and common intention. For this, the court imposed an additional six-month sentence and a ₹1,000 fine on each. If they default on this fine, they will have to serve an additional one-month imprisonment.