Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Oct 27: Judge of the district additional and sessions court which also is the fast track court for cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, sentenced an accused to ten years jail term. Judge of the court, Yermal Kalpana, who found that the charge of sexual atrocity committed by the accused on a five-year-old girl who had been to neighbouring house to play, has been proved, awarded the above sentence.

Venkatesh (30) from Bengaluru was found guilty and sentenced in this case. Special pubic prosecutor of the court, Y T Raghavendra, had pleaded the case on behalf of the prosecution.

The incident happened in the year 2018 within the limits of Karkala rural police station. When the girl visited the house of Venkatesh, her neighbour, he had committed sexual atrocity on the girl. The girl had fallen sick after which her mother prepared concoction by way of native remedy. However, the girl's condition turned worse at which she was referred to a hospital in Karkala and taken to a hospital in Manipal. During the journey to Manipal, the girl narrated the sexual assault she was subjected to. On the basis of a complaint made by the girl's parents, the then sub-inspector of Karkala police station, Nanja Naik, had registered the case. The then Karkala police circle inspector, Joy Antony, had investigated the case and filed a charge sheet in the court.

Out of 19 witnesses listed, 12 were examined by the court. Medical records, and evidences of the harassed girl and other witnesses went in support of the prosecution. The court, after finding Venkatesh guilty of the offence, sentenced him to ten years of rigorous imprisonment under POCSO Act, and imposed on him a fine of Rs 20,000 out of which Rs 15,000 has been ordered to be disbursed to the victim. The court also instructed the government to sanction compensation of Rs 75,000 to the affected girl.