Longding rape case-2019: Accused gets 20 years of Rigorous Imprisonment

OUR CORRESPONDENT

ITANAGAR: A Special POSCO Court on Monday convicted Topha Wangshu from Longding district in Arunachal Pradesh and sentenced him to 20 years of RI (Rigorous Imprisonment) besides fine on charges of raping a school girl. The convicted person is a resident of Longkhaw Village in the district.

The Court convicted the person under Section 4 of the POCSO Act-2012.

In November 2019, a girl student during an ongoing examination at the Don Bosco School in Longding complained of stomach ache and informed the matter to her teacher, who called her guardian to the school. However, before she was taken by her guardian, she delivered a premature foetus.

The school authority discovered the premature foetus in the girls' toilet the next day and informed the matter to the police.

The police reached the minor, who lodged a written FIR, alleging that the accused, Topha raped her on 19 June, following which she got pregnant and suffered the miscarriage in school.

Upon receipt of the FIR, Longding Police Station OC Inspector O Lego registered the case under Section 376 (2) (i) IPC r/w Section 4 of the POCSO Act and endorsed the same to SI J Wangsa for investigation of the case.

The accused has pleaded that he was in love with the minor and their sexual encounter was consensual. However, the victim is only 15 years of age and any sexual assault on a child under 18 years of age is an offence punishable under the POCSO Act. Meanwhile, the Special Court has referred the matter to the District Legal Services Authority for providing adequate compensation for the rehabilitation of the victim under the 'Arunachal Pradesh Victim Compensation Scheme-2011'

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