Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Sep 1: A child-friendly court here pronounced verdict in a minor rape case on Thursday August 31. It sentenced Manoj(22), who raped  a 14-year-old girl along with his friend, to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment. A fine of Rs 2,500 was also imposed on him.

In this case, Lokesh, who was partner in this crime with Manoj, died in a road accident during the pendency of the case. The two had raped the girl in Rajiv Gandhi Park in Nandini Layout here on December 9, 2014.

The girl, who lived with her parents, used to work for a unit  packing cumin seeds. On December 9, she did not return home even at 7.30 pm, which worried her parents. They went to nearby park during the search and called out the girl by name, at which the culprits developed cold feet and ran away. The parents, who saw the two men running, went into the park and found that their daughter was gagged, her hands had been tied together, and she was raped. They then filed complaint in police station.

The girl said that the two, who approached her in a motor bike, snatched away her vanity bag and went some distance further. When she demanded the bag back, they flashed a knife, forcibly led her into the park and raped her. Nandini Layour police who registered case, arrested Lokesh and Manoj, engaged in vegetable vending business in RMC Yard. Lokesh, who later secured release on bail, died in a road accident.

Judge of the child-friendly court, Vanamala yadav, asked public prosecutor, S N Hiremani, to file petition separately towards claiming  financial assistance to the  affected girl from the government.