Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (MS)

Mangaluru, Nov 4: First additional district and sessions court (FTSC-1) (POCSO) court judge Manjula Itti sentenced accused, who impregnated a minor girl belonging to scheduled tribe, to 20 years of Rigorous imprisonment.

Srikant Hanumantha, native of Bagalkot Hardolli is the accused who is convicted. The victim minor girl was living in a shed of a box manufacturing company of Karambaru village under Bajpe police station limits. The accused also lived in the adjacent shed. When the parents of the victim girl where not at home, the accused sexually harassed the minor girl several times on the pretext of loving her from April 12, 2019. In addition, the accused also clicked her photos and threatened the girl of murder if she confides the same with anyone else.

When the girl became sick in school, she was taken to hospital. It was confirmed that she is pregnant. Later, she gave birth to a child. ACP Srinivas Gowda did the preliminary investigation. ACP Belliappa submitted chargesheet in court.

Justice Manjula Itty who conducted the inquiry sentenced the accused to 20 years of RI and Rs 10000 fine. Judge also ordered the government to pay Rs 10.50 lac to the victim girl.

Special public prosecutor Sahana Devi argued for the prosecution in the beginning of the inquiry. Later special government prosecutor Jyoti Pramod Nayak argued for the prosecution.