Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (MS)
Mangaluru, Oct 21: Praveen Salian (35), a police constable of District Armed Reserve (DAR) police, was sentenced to life imprisonment as the accusation of sexual harassment and abetting suicide of a minor girl on him was proved in the court.
Praveen, a resident of Siddartha Nagara in Bajpe, had got acquainted with a minor girl on Facebook on February 16, 2015. He projected as if he is in love with her and used to be in her contact continuously on mobile and social media. He also used to have obscene conversations with her.
Later, Praveen demanded Rs one lac or gold of the same value from the minor girl. The girl panicked and killed herself on June 10, 2015 at her house. A case in this connection was registered in Ullal police station.
Justice Manjula Itti of POCSO fast track court of the city, who conducted inquiry sentenced Praveen to life imprisonment and slapped a fine of Rs 10,000 under section 305 of IPC. He was also awarded three years of RI under section 12 of POCSO and a fine of Rs 1,000.
Special public prosecutor Sahana Devi argued for the prosecution.
The death note written by the minor girl before ending her life was the clinching evidence. She had clearly mentioned that Praveen Salian is responsible for her death and also wrote his mobile phone number.