Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Sep 18: A person who accompanied a 16-year-old girl from Pumpwell Mangaluru, took her to various places in Kerala and kept her in illegal confinement, got only 44 days jail term. Mustafa (34), resident of Bantwal, who was accused of these crimes, was held guilty and awarded only 44 days jail term by the sixth additional district and sessions court here.

The court absolved the accused of charges like rape, abduction and criminal conspiracy that were levelled against him because of lack of evidences. He was found guilty of one crime, that is of keeping the girl in illegal confinement. Therefore he was awarded 44 days jail in addition to fine of Rs 500. This verdict was passed by judge of the court, D T Puttaranga Swamy. He also ordered payment of Rs 10,000 by way of compensation to the victim through Legal Services Authority.

The case, which dates back to 2009, had kicked up lot of interest then. The girl had been cajoled into accompanying the man on March 11, 2009 from Pumpwell here, it was said. Some organizations had held protests, terming this as 'Love Jihad'. The police, who investigated the case on the basis of complaint filed by the girl's parents, had found her from a house at Kannur Kerala on April 6 the same year.

The girl had accused Mustafa of forcibly taking her to Kerala, and sexually assaulting her by confining her in different houses. Mustafa was arrested in 2012 and charge sheet was submitted. Public prosecutor, Judith O M Crasta, had argued the case on behalf of the prosecution. The judge found several lacunae in the process of investigation in this case.